Video, Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks on the Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

AUDIO: The Governor's remarks are available in audio form here.

PHOTOS of Governor Hochul and His Holiness Pope Francis are available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

 I did want to also acknowledge that as a Roman Catholic, I join billions across the globe as we mourn the passing of a true spiritual leader, and my recollection of meeting Pope Francis as a man of great humility, but also love of people.

And he made a comment that struck me, he says, "God does not abandon any of his children." And that means he was fighting for the marginalized: members of the LGBTQ+ community, migrants, people who are impoverished, people who are in prison. Those were the ones that he gave God's compassion to. That's how I was raised as a Catholic, as a social justice Catholic. He was a man of peace but a fighter for justice, and we mourn his passing. May he rest in peace.

And grateful for the special blessing he gave my husband and I on the anniversary of our wedding, 40 years, when I met him in person last year during an invitation I received from him to speak at a climate conference. Again, a reminder of his outward view of the world that we all, regardless of religion, have a responsibility to the other countries that have not been responsible for creating climate change, but need our help as well. Just want to acknowledge his passing.

Contact the Governor's Press Office