Cardinal Dolan Talks Pope, Mortality on Ash Wednesday

Hundreds of Catholics packed the pews of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in midtown Manhattan for noon mass today on this Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent.

WNYC's Colby Hamilton says Cardinal Timothy Dolan invoked the lives of two men in his homily, including Pope Benedict the XVI who will resign at the end of the month.

Cardinal Dolan talked about mortality. He connected both Mayor Koch - who recently passed away -- and Pope Benedict, noting that both of them recently acknowledged that they were close to death, but saying that both of them didn't fear it. He said that's what Ash Wednesday is all about. Recognizing your mortality.

A fair number of people have shown up at St. Pat's. Most of the pews are filled at this point.

— Colby Hamilton (@bcolbyhamilton) February 13, 2013

He's evoked both Mayor Koch and the Pope's "consciousness...of mortality."

— Colby Hamilton (@bcolbyhamilton) February 13, 2013

Cardinal Dolan just received his ashes. "Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

— Colby Hamilton (@bcolbyhamilton) February 13, 2013