BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN
“He’ll make statements, take social stands, but he also has a very traditional kind of a piety, and a real personal humility rooted in a sense of traditional prayer, a love for the Blessed Mother, the way he finishes every message saying ‘pray for me.’ I think those are the hallmarks that continue. Pope Francis will always be remembered for his profound respect for the dignity of all people. Throughout his papacy that spanned 12 years, Pope Francis was committed to efforts to improve the environment, promote unity among people of faith, and make better the lives of the poor and oppressed.”
AUXILIARY BISHOP JAMES MASSA
“On Oct. 28, 2015, I had the opportunity to greet Pope Francis at the Wednesday General Audience in Rome. In my halting Spanish, I reminded the Holy Father of his presiding the previous Sept. 25 during his U.S. visit at the interfaith service at the 9/11 Museum, which I, as a recently ordained bishop, was privileged to coordinate. The pope raised his hands in exuberance, looked up to the sky, and then commented at how captivating the event was for him — especially the testimonies of the young rabbi and imam, the New York City Youth Chorus singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and the young Jewish cantor bellowing the Kaddish for those who had perished on that fateful day in 2001. The pope, the world’s great witness to human fraternity these past 12 years, became a brother and father for all New Yorkers that day.”
BISHOP EMERITUS NICHOLAS DIMARZIO
“The Holy Spirit truly was working in the Church when the cardinals chose Jorge Bergoglio to be our new pope after the resignation of Benedict XVI. Pope Francis was uniquely formed for the years of his pontificate, and his openness to the world and its problems has been evident throughout his papacy. His care for the Church, and especially his initiation of the synodal process in the Church, is truly a work of the Holy Spirit, as this truly brought to completion the work of the Second Vatican Council. My personal interactions with him were always a pleasure. His smile, his concern, his remembrance of who I was and where I served in the Church always was a true encouragement to me as a bishop. May the Lord give Francis the reward of his goodness and eternal rest.”
AUXILIARY BISHOP WITOLD MROZIEWSKI
“After meeting with Pope Francis, I felt a deep sense of spiritual strength and peace. It was an extraordinary moment that filled me with hope and humility, as well as a renewed faith in the mission of the Church. The meeting with the Holy Father gave me a sense of unity with the entire Catholic community and reminded me of my responsibility as a shepherd. It was a moment that allowed me to reflect personally on my vocation and mission, while also giving me new strength to carry out my ministry with even greater commitment.”
AUXILIARY BISHOP EMERITUS RAYMOND CHAPPETTO
“I was honored to meet Pope Francis twice! Once at JFK Airport in 2015, when he made his pastoral visit to New York, and the second time at the ‘ad limina’ visit in 2019. The joy on his face still remains with me. I truly felt the uplifting presence of a deeply spiritual person.”
AUXILIARY BISHOP EMERITUS PAUL SANCHEZ
“[The NY Bishops Ad Limina visit in 2019] was the third time that Pope Francis greeted me individually. His words to me when I first met him continue to ring in my heart. He said, as he took my hand, ‘Pray for me!’ ”
AUXILIARY BISHOP EMERITUS NEIL TIEDEMANN
“Pope Francis was very kind and warm. As we met with him, there was a very open sharing of our pastoral experiences and realities. He listened to us, and it was obvious he was very interested in our diocese. On a personal note, when Bishop DiMarzio introduced me, Pope Francis received me with a joke and repeated it upon our farewell.”
AUXILIARY BISHOP EMERITUS OCTAVIO CISNEROS
“Each encounter I had with the successor of Peter has profoundly deepened my appreciation for the universality of the Church. There’s a palpable sense of the ‘presence of a past’ that resonates in these meetings, bridging history and the present moment. I have had the honor of meeting five vicars of Christ. Each brought unique qualities and perspectives, enriching my understanding of our faith. Most recently, my meeting with Pope Francis stood out for its sense of closeness and informality. I believe this connection was heightened by our shared nationality and language, which made the experience even more personal and meaningful.”