Statement of Cardinal Donald Wuerl on the Death of Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York

March 5, 2015

It was with great sorrow that I learned this afternoon of the sudden death of Cardinal Edward Egan, who has been a friend since 1963. I first came to know him at the Pontifical North American College when I was a seminarian in Rome and then-Fr. Egan was a young teacher at the college working on his graduate studies in canon law. Our paths crossed many times in the 1970s when I was working in Rome for Cardinal John Wright of Pittsburgh at the Congregation for Clergy and Fr. Egan served at the Roman Rota.

As brother bishops, we worked together in a number of capacities over the years, including as members of the board of directors of the North American College and on various committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition to being a gifted scholar of canon law, Cardinal Egan conveyed a deep pastoral concern for and dedication to the faithful he served.

I offer my prayers and sympathy to Cardinal Egan’s family and friends and the many people whose lives he touched through his ministry over the years as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and later as Bishop of Bridgeport and Archbishop of New York. May the Lord grant him eternal rest.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 620,000 Catholics, 139 parishes and 95 Catholic schools, located in Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

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