Cardinal Timothy Dolan has stepped down as Archbishop of New York after 17 years, submitting his resignation upon turning 75 and having it accepted by the Holy Father. The Vatican has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as his successor. Dolan says he feels 'at peace,' praised Hicks' humility and faith after getting to know him by phone, and plans to remain active in parish ministry, celebrating Mass and visiting institutions across the city.
Cardinal Dolan 'At Peace' After Stepping Down; Praises Successor's Humility and Faith
ROME, ITALY - MAY 04: Archbishop of New York cardinal Timothy Dolan presides over a Mass in his own titular Church 'Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario' at the northern outskirts of Rome last May in Rome, Italy.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he is ready for the next chapter after stepping down as Archbishop of New York, closing a 17-year ministry in which he says he brought joy to many.
Dolan confirmed he submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon turning 75, as is customary in the Catholic Church, and that the pope accepted it. The Vatican has named Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, to succeed him as Archbishop of New York.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan marches up Fifth Avenue during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City on March 17, 2023.
Speaking on 'The Story,' Dolan recalled: 'On February 6, I turned 75. Every bishop has to submit a letter of resignation to the Holy Father and every bishop's (letter) is accepted in this way: the Holy Father accepts your resignation (and) you will remain as Archbishop of New York until your successor is named.' He said he understood last February that his resignation had been accepted and spent the months since living in a kind of 'perpetual Advent,' patiently awaiting the announcement of his successor.
'I knew the resignation was accepted last February... I kind of lived in sort of like a perpetual advent, longing, waiting patiently for the appointment of my successor — and bingo — it came yesterday, and I am delighted,' Dolan said.
Dolan acknowledged a measure of sadness in leaving the administrative post but said he feels 'at peace.' Much of his anxiety eased after he began speaking regularly with Bishop Hicks by phone and got to know him personally.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, celebrates Easter Sunday Mass in a nearly empty St. Patrick’s Cathedral on April 12, 2020 in New York City.
'We were together for a couple of hours a day on the phone and even then, I said, "This guy's a winner,"' Dolan told Fox News. 'When he came in Wednesday night and we stayed up till about midnight chatting, I said, "This guy is humble, he's sincere, he loves our Lord and His Church."'
Dolan recalled that Hicks confessed to being nervous about moving from Joliet — a diocese of roughly half a million Catholics — to New York, which is several times larger. Dolan reassured him that he had felt similar apprehension 17 years earlier and that 'God's grace will provide' the support of the archdiocese's people.
Plans After Retirement
Although stepping down from the administrative leadership of the archdiocese, Dolan said New York remains his home and he intends to stay deeply involved in parish ministry. 'I look forward to Masses and confessions and baptisms and weddings and visiting parishes and schools and hospitals and prisons and nursing homes,' he said. 'All the stuff I relish doing.'
The transition marks the end of an era for the Archdiocese of New York and the beginning of a new chapter under Bishop Ronald Hicks, whom Dolan described as humble, sincere and devoted to the Church.
