Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: O'Brien kwuru, mgbe ọ na-akatọ ụgwọ ụlọ omebe iwu gbasara ọmụmụ nwa n'afọ 2008, na ya na-ebu kaadị inye onyinye. O'Brien nwere nsogbu obi ma tinye ya pacemaker mgbe ọ na-eme mkpesa banyere isi ọwụwa na ịda mba tupu Mass Sunday Sunday na March 2008. Mgbe o kwupụtara na ya agaghị aga
2013 conclave o kwuru "Mgbe m na-eru afọ 75 na mgbe ụfọdụ na ahụike adịghị mma, m gbara arụkwaghịm m dị ka Achịbishọp nke St Andrews na Edinburgh nye Pope Benedict XVI ọnwa ole na ole gara aga".