One day before Easter Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said he is trying to see the light through the darkness during a difficult time for the city.

Dolan attended the wake of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller Friday night. Diller was fatally shot in the line of duty Monday evening during a traffic stop in Queens.

"In spite of the darkness, the sadness, the sobbing and the questioning, boy oh boy, there was also a tangible spirit of hope," Dolan told anchors Rocco Vertuccio and Shannan Ferry Saturday morning on NY1.

At the wake, Dolan spoke to widow Stephanie Diller, who had "a sparkle in her eye" when talking about her son Ryan.

"There was just a thickness in the solidarity of all the family and friends and neighbors and parishioners and police department. There was hope in the midst of this terrible sorrow and I thought, 'Boy, here's Easter right after Good Friday,'" Dolan said.

This Easter will be celebrated as an influx of migrants continue to arrive in the five boroughs. Dolan believes the "city needs a pat on the back" for how it has handled the crisis.

"It's been unfair and unjust the way the city of New York has been expected by the rest of the nation to take these crowds of immigrants and refugees and asylum seekers in and to care for them," Dolan said. "And yet we've done it, and we've done it well."

Sunday will also mark the first Easter since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, a conflict that has taken the lives of thousands.

"The need for hope extends well beyond the city, you bet. Israel and Gaza. You think of Ukraine. You think of the persecutions of believers throughout the world. You think of the hunger and the strife. We need it all over the place," Dolan said.

Dolan believes people turn to their faith when times get tough, a response the 74-year-old thinks is "implanted in our heart and soul."

"What are the first things we say spontaneously? 'Oh, my God. Oh, my God,'" Dolan said. "It's like we spontaneously, naturally, innately turn to the Lord. We're hardwired for that."

On a lighter note, Dolan said there is another reason he is looking forward to Easter.

"I just look forward to after the Mass tonight at the Easter vigil, I can have a ham sandwich and a cold beer," Dolan quipped.