NEW YORK (AP) — New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he was as startled as the rest of the world about Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he will resign later this month due to failing health.

Dolan says he feels a special bond with the pope because he was the one that appointed him archbishop of New York.

Dolan, speaking on the "Today" show Monday, says he wears the ring and the cross the pope gave him.

The pope announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 because he's simply too infirm to carry on.

Dolan says the conclave to elect to a new pope would do well to look for the kinds of qualities Pope Benedict possessed: knowledge about the world, a theological depth, personal piety and linguistic talent.