New York's Cardinal Edward Egan dies at 82

NEW YORK -- Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop-Emeritus, 12th bishop and 9th archbishop and 7th Cardinal of the See of New York, has died at the age of 82, according to the Archdiocese of New York.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan says his predecessor passed away after lunch today. Cardinal Egan was pronounced dead at NYU Langone Medical Center at 2:20 p.m. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, officials said.

"Join me, please, in thanking God for his life, especially his generous and faithful priesthood," Cardinal Dolan said. "My sympathy to his natural family, who will grieve for their uncle, and to you, his spiritual family here in the Archdiocese of New York."

Cardinal Egan was born on April 2, 1932, in Oak Park, Illinois. His Eminence was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on December 15, 1957. He was consecrated a bishop in 1985. From 1985 0 1988, Cardinal Egan served as Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar for Education of the Archdiocese of New York. In 1988 he was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport by Pope John Paul II. In the year 2000, he was appointed Archbishop of New York and made a cardinal in 2001.

In May of 2009, at the age of seventy-seven, Cardinal Egan was retired as Archbishop of New York. He Manhattan and assisted in the works of the Archdiocese, while serving on a number of offices of the Vatican.

Funeral arrangements are pending.