Caldwell University Gets Visit From Potential Pope

CALDWELL, NJ — It’s not every day that a potential pope visits your campus.

On Wednesday, Caldwell University got a visit from Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of the Newark Archdiocese. During his afternoon visit, Tobin took part in the university’s Advent Mass and meet with the campus community.

In his homily, Cardinal Tobin spoke of the Gospel reading, Matthew 15:29-37, which is the story of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, and how it is “the most-told miracle of Jesus.” The Mass was con-celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Andreano, vicar general and chancellor/secretary to the archbishop; Father Al Berner, Caldwell’s former chaplain, and Father James Manos, pastor of St. Luke’s in Ho-Ho-Kus.

Tobin, the former archbishop of Indianapolis, took over for ex-Newark Archbishop John Myers in 2016. He is a former archbishop-secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, CatholicNews.com reported.

• See related article: Will The Next Pope Come From NJ?

Tobin's selection marked the first time that the Archdiocese of Newark has been led by a cardinal, the elite rank that new popes are selected from, the New York Times reported.

The Newark archdiocese includes the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union, and includes about 1.5 million Catholics in 214 parishes.

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Main Photo: Archdiocese of Newark