As the Catholic Church prepares for the important task of selecting its next pope, many are taking a moment to look back and honor the legacy of Pope Francis.
Among them is New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who shared heartfelt memories and reflections during a moving conversation at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Friday.
Dolan, one of ten American cardinals who will participate in the upcoming conclave, spoke with Montse Alvarado, President and COO of EWTN News, about the lasting impact Pope Francis has left on the Church — and on hearts around the world.
A Man Who Led with His Heart
In his warm reflections, Cardinal Dolan described Pope Francis as “a man of the heart.”
Unlike his predecessors, whose papacies emphasized different facets of the faith, Francis chose to lead with compassion, tenderness, and mercy.
Looking back on the three most recent popes, Dolan pointed out how each brought a unique gift to their leadership.
St. John Paul II, he said, “reinvigorated the soul of the world” during a time when lies and atrocities had worn people down.
Benedict XVI, on the other hand, was known for harmonizing the mind, faith, and reason — a brilliant theological guide for many.
“And Pope Francis,” Dolan said with a smile, “he spoke to the heart. Very much to the heart.”
A First Impression Marked by Tenderness
Dolan fondly recalled the first time Pope Francis appeared at the papal window after his election.
Many expected a deep, theological discourse — something formal and scholarly.
But what they heard instead was something refreshingly simple and profoundly moving.
“He spoke about tenderness,” Dolan remembered. “He reminded us that we have a God who is tender with us, and he urged us to be tender with one another.”
It was this unexpected focus on kindness and compassion that would go on to define Pope Francis’ time as leader of the Catholic Church.
A Final Message Rooted in Love
As Dolan reflected further, he spoke about Francis’ last encyclical, Dilexit Nos, describing it as a “magnificent” and fitting final message.
The document called on Catholics everywhere to reconnect with the love and compassion found in the heart of Jesus Christ — a message that perfectly summed up Francis’ entire papacy.
Even as the pope battled health issues in the final months of his life, Dolan noted that the core of who he was never wavered.
“I remember when he was in the hospital for so long,” Dolan said.
“The medical bulletins would come out, and the doctors would say, ‘His heart is strong.’ And I thought, ‘You bet it is.’”
For Cardinal Dolan and for so many others around the world, Pope Francis will be remembered not just as a leader, but as a man whose heart was truly at the center of everything he did.v