Egan attends mass despite hospitalization

NEW YORK, April 10 (UPI) -- Recently hospitalized Cardinal Edward Egan, the archbishop of New York, said he felt "pretty good" while attending a service at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Roman Catholic Church official said he wanted to attend the Holy Thursday mass, along with Good Friday and Easter masses, despite his hospitalization for stomach pains, the New York Daily News said.

"I'm feeling pretty good (but) not as well as I should," Egan said at the New York church Thursday, two days after he was released from a hospital with doctors recommending he receive a pacemaker.

"I understand (at) Easter time you are supposed to be willing to bear crosses," he said.

Egan, who will take part in Easter Mass at the cathedral Sunday, said he was prepared to hand over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York after nearly 10 years as its head.

"What I wanted to do is done," Egan said.

Egan will be replaced by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee on Wednesday.

"The archdiocese is at peace," Egan said.