Later Years
Cardinal Egan, in keeping with the Code of Canon Law, offered his resignation as archbishop of New York to Pope Benedict XVI on April 2, 2007, when he reached 75 years of age. His resignation became official on February 23, 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Timothy Dolan as his successor, who took possession of the archdiocese on April 15, 2009. Cardinal Egan is the first Archbishop of New York to retire; all previous Archbishops of New York died in office, even after the introduction of the requirement for bishops to offer their resignation from their positions of pastoral care upon reaching age 75.
On December 15, 2007, Egan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest. He was appointed by the pope to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on January 26, 2008. In January 2009, he publicly condemned the controversial statements made by Society of Saint Pius X Bishop Richard Williamson.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Catholic University of America and a member of the Board of Governors at Ave Maria School of Law. He reached age 80 on April 2, 2012, and from then on he would be able to participate in discussions prior to conclave voting, but not enter a conclave.
Egan was admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital on April 4, 2009, after experiencing stomach pains. After undergoing various tests, he was released from the hospital on April 7, and was later given a pacemaker in a low-risk surgery. He was well enough to preside over the following liturgical services for Holy Week.
In addition to his native English, he speaks French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish.
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