Today's announcement by the Holy Father that he has named Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto to the College of Cardinals has brought great joy to me and to the faithful of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Cardinal-designate Dolan is a caring priest who shepherds the people of the Archdiocese of New York with great pastoral care, especially when it comes to his concern for the voiceless and the disadvantaged.  I have great respect and admiration for him, and I feel blessed to have known him for the past 18 years.

Cardinal-designate Collins is admired for his wisdom and for his service to the Church in Toronto and throughout Canada.

I ask all in the Diocese of Buffalo to pray for Cardinal-designate Dolan and Cardinal-designate Collins as their priestly journeys of service to the Catholic Church take this monumental step.  How blessed we are in Western New York to have the leaders of two archdioceses located close to Buffalo elevated to cardinal on the same day.

Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec
Bishop of Buffalo