Thousands turn out to bid a final farewell to Cardinal Edward Egan

NEW YORK (WABC) --

The afternoon sun broke through the clouds as the majestic procession for Cardinal Egan got underway at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Priests and clergy, bishops and cardinals entered the great cathedral as New York's current archbishop - Timothy Cardinal Dolan - greeted them.

Inside the church, a who's who of dignitaries listened as Cardinal Dolan spoke about his predecessor.

Egan, he said, was a gift from God who worked heroically for parishes, charities, health care and education.

Dolan told the 2,500 people packing the cathedral that Egan "was uncomfortable with eulogies" but Dolan went on to praise him nonetheless. He said Catholics from fellow cardinals to "God's good people" could tell of "consolation given on and after 9/11, prayers offered, sick visited, prisoners encouraged, children taught, immigrants welcomed, and parishes strengthened."

"Now this Church thanks God for him and commends his noble, priestly soul to the everlasting mercy of Jesus," Dolan said.

Egan died Thursday after a heart attack. A Vatican theological force, he led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York for almost a decade, including on Sept. 11, 2001, when hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center and more than 2,700 died. In the days and weeks that followed, Egan performed many funerals.

"I remember one particular firefighter's funeral that he presided over that was so moving and so beautiful," former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said. "And then what people didn't know is even when he didn't preside over a funeral, he would often drive out to a parish and just sit there and give a blessing."

Among those taking part in the funeral Mass were Cardinal Egan's family members, who served as lectors, readers and gift bearers.

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Thousands turn out to bid a final farewell to Cardinal Edward Egan