Timothy Dolan was named Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009. He had served as Archbishop of Milwaukee, appointed there by Pope Saint John Paul II on June 25, 2002.
Timothy Michael Dolan was the first of five children, born to Shirley and Robert Dolan on February 6, 1950. His education began at Holy Infant Parish School in Ballwin, Missouri, and continued through high school and college seminaries in Saint Louis. He then completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he earned a License in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on June 19, 1976, he served as associate pastor at Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights, Missouri, until 1979, when he began studies for a doctorate in American Church History at The Catholic University of America.
On his return to Saint Louis, Father Dolan again served in parish ministry from 1983-87, and then was appointed to a five-year term as secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. When he returned to St. Louis in 1992, he was appointed vice-rector and professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, as well as an adjunct professor of theology at Saint Louis University.
In 1994, he was appointed rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he remained until June 2001. While in Rome, he also served as a visiting professor of Church History both at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
On June 19, 2001, the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, then Monsignor Dolan was named the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis by Pope Saint John Paul II, choosing for his Episcopal motto the profession of faith of St. Peter: Ad Quem Ibimus, “To Whom Shall We Go?” (Jn 6:68).
Bishop Dolan served as chairman of Catholic Relief Services, and became a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America.
On January 6, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced that Timothy Dolan was to be appointed to the College of Cardinals. He currently serves as a member of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, and the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Dolan participated in the Conclave that elected Pope Francis in March 2013.
Cardinal Dolan completed a three-year term as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 2013. He also completed terms as chair of the Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life activities and the Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty.
In March 2015, he served as Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, leading the celebration of St. Patrick and Irish heritage.
In September 2015, Cardinal Dolan welcomed Pope Francis during his only visit to New York and the United States. After offering evening prayers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the evening of September 24, on September 25 Pope Francis spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, visited and prayed at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero, stopped at Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, participated in a procession in Central Park, before celebrating Mass at Madison Square Garden that evening. He departed on September 26.
In January 2017, Cardinal Dolan gave the first benediction at the inauguration of the term of President Donald Trump, reading King Solomon’s Prayer from the Book of Wisdom.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Cardinal Dolan led the archdiocese in complying with all municipal, state, and federal regulations, temporarily closing churches and schools. At the same time, he pushed for the livestreaming of Masses, including Holy Week Masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and oversaw the upgrading of ventilation systems and equipment that allowed archdiocesan schools to reopen ahead of public schools.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Cardinal Dolan made a surprise visit to that country in late April and early May along with Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia Borys Gudziak, bringing with him donations of money and supplies from the Archdiocese of New York.
In December 2024, Cardinal Dolan was a guest of honor at the rededication of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. A month later, in January 2025, Cardinal Dolan once again gave the invocation at the inauguration of the second presidential term of Donald Trump.
Following the death of Pope Francis in April, he participated in the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May 2025.
One of the most significant challenges of Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s tenure as Archbishop of New York was responding to the sexual abuse crisis and its consequences for the Church. As his goal has always been to expeditiously resolve all meritorious claims, the archdiocese voluntarily launched the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) in 2016, which settled more than 400 cases. More recently, Cardinal Dolan underscored the difficult decisions required to fund additional settlements under the Child Victims Act, including the sale of Church property to raise approximately $300 million to compensate and promote healing for victims-survivors and ensure accountability and transparency.
September 2025 saw the unveiling of artist Adam Cvijanovic’s mural “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?”, an artistic interpretation of the Apparition at Knock in Ireland, which tells the story of New York’s immigrants, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cardinal Dolan spearheaded the project over many years and helped to fundraise and guide the largest commissioned artwork in the cathedral’s history. An image of his mother as a young girl appears as part of the mural, along with depictions of New York saints, venerables, and Servants of God.
On December 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV accepted Cardinal Dolan’s resignation, tendered according to Church law on his 75th birthday.
Throughout his career, Cardinal Dolan has been a staunch supporter of religious freedom and interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He has repeatedly called attention to the persecution of Catholics and other Christians around the world, and has regularly decried anti-Semitism and expressed solidarity with the Jewish people. He has received numerous awards, including the Isaiah Award for Exemplary Interreligious Leadership, American Jewish Committee; Visionary Leadership Award, NY Latter-day Saint Professional Association; Spirit of Francis Award, Catholic Extension; Canterbury Medal, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Appeal of Conscience Award, Appeal of Conscience Foundation; Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Notre Dame; Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa), Fordham University; President’s Medal, The Catholic University of America; Gold Medal, St. John’s University.