Trump's faith journey mirrors America turning to God in challenging times, Cardinal Dolan says

That's the message to take away from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York who leads midnight Mass this Christmas.

Cardinal Dolan shared this sentiment during an exclusive sit-down interview with Maria Bartiromo at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, where he reflected on signs that Americans are rejecting the "caricature" of faith as "nasty, destructive, harmful and antiquated," prompting sales of the Bible and other books on spirituality to rise.

He continued, "I think the assassination attempts kind of renewed in him, 'There's something beyond me that I think is watching over me, and it's got a task for me.' And what he expresses personally seems to be expressed more and more throughout the world. And that's part of America."

Perhaps there is something bigger watching over the world, he suggested, pointing to former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, two figures whose contributions helped define the latter part of the 20th century. They both survived assassination attempts very close to one another, each going on to help make the world what it is today.

"When the two of them met for the first time, Ronald Reagan said to Pope Saint John Paul II, 'Mother Teresa told me that she thinks the Lord spared me because the Lord has something special in mind for me, and Pope Saint John Paul II smiled and said, 'She told me the same thing.' They both believed that, and look what they were able to accomplish. The world was changed for the better because of them," he reflected.

As billions across the world prepare to celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, Dolan says his message this midnight mass will focus on the "triumph of light."

"The Lord's always inviting us to go out of ourselves. That gives us hope."