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Timothy Dolan Is Feeling Doughy

NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Archbishop Timothy Dolan is seen during his first service and Mass of Installation at St. Patrick's Cathedral April 15, 2009 in New York City. Dolan, 59, the former Milwaukee archbishop, is taking over the nation's second-largest diocese from Cardinal Edward Egan who is retiring after nine years. (Photo by Susan Watts-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Timothy Dolan
Photo: Pool/2009 Getty Images

The New York Times followed Cardinal Timothy Dolan to Rome, where he is set to participate in the conclave that will choose Pope Benedict’s successor. While visiting a local church on Sunday, Dolan answered a question about his expectations for the process by “citing what he said was an Italian aphorism” that means “You can only make gnocchi with the dough you got.” As he put it, “We want to be good dough for the Holy Spirit to work through.” Parishioners eager to help him achieve his goal presented the cardinal with a basket containing biscuits, cookies, tuna, and chickpeas. As Dolan accepted the gift, he said that he hoped to bring a small treat with him to the conclave because “I hear that the food is not good.” That’s no way to keep one’s ring finger in fighting shape, but maybe he was just kidding around.