Timothy Dolan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Timothy Dolan |
|
|---|---|
| Cardinal Archbishop of New York |
|
.jpg)
Dolan during the entrance procession of mass at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota
|
|
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | New York |
| Appointed | February 23, 2009 |
| Enthroned | April 15, 2009 |
| Predecessor | Edward Egan |
| Other posts | Cardinal Priest of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 19, 1976 |
| Consecration | August 15, 2001 by Justin Rigali |
| Created Cardinal | February 18, 2012 |
| Rank | Cardinal priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Timothy Michael Dolan |
| Born | February 6, 1950 St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Previous post |
|
| Education |
|
| Motto | Ad quem ibimus (Latin for 'To whom shall we go?') (John 6:68) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Timothy Michael Dolan (born February 6, 1950) is a leading American figure in the Catholic Church. He has been the Archbishop of New York since 2009. In 2012, he became a cardinal, one of the highest positions in the Church.
As a cardinal, Dolan took part in the important meeting in 2013 that chose Pope Francis. He also participated in the 2025 meeting that elected Pope Leo XIV. From 2010 to 2013, he was the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), a group of Catholic leaders in the U.S.
Cardinal Dolan is known for his conservative views. Before coming to New York, he was the Archbishop of Milwaukee and worked in St. Louis and Rome.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Timothy Dolan was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 6, 1950. He was the oldest of five children. His father, Robert, was an aircraft engineer, and his mother was Shirley Dolan. The family later moved to Ballwin, Missouri.
From a young age, Dolan knew he wanted to be a priest. As a child, he would pretend to celebrate Mass, the main Catholic worship service. In 1964, he started his studies at a special high school for future priests. He later earned a degree in philosophy.
After college, he was sent to Rome to continue his studies. He earned a degree in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Path to Priesthood
Dolan was officially made a priest on June 19, 1976. He first worked in local churches, called parishes, in Missouri. In 1979, he went to Washington, D.C., to study American Catholic history at the Catholic University of America. He even wrote a book based on his research.
In 1983, he returned to Missouri and helped improve the training for new priests. A few years later, he worked for the Apostolic Nunciature, which is the Pope's embassy in Washington, D.C. In 1992, he became a leader at the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Missouri, where he also taught history.
Work in Rome and St. Louis
In 1994, Dolan was appointed rector, or head, of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This school trains priests from the United States. During his time there, he wrote a book called Priests for the Third Millennium.
On June 19, 2001, Pope John Paul II made him an auxiliary bishop of St. Louis. This meant he helped the main archbishop lead the church in that area. His motto as a bishop is Ad quem ibimus, which is Latin for "Lord, to whom shall we go?" This is a quote from the Bible.
Leadership Roles
Archbishop of Milwaukee
In 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Dolan as the Archbishop of Milwaukee. During his time there, he focused on encouraging more men to become priests. He also became known for his friendly personality. At an outdoor Mass, he once wore a "cheesehead" hat to honor the Green Bay Packers football team.
While in Milwaukee, Dolan faced a difficult period for the Church. He had to deal with serious problems involving priests who had harmed young people. He said this issue challenged and haunted him.
Archbishop of New York
On February 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named Dolan the tenth Archbishop of New York. He took over from Cardinal Edward Egan. When he arrived, Dolan promised to be a voice for the Church's teachings. He also wanted to help Catholics feel more confident in their faith after the difficult times the Church had faced.
His official installation ceremony took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 15, 2009. As archbishop, he has had to make tough decisions, like closing some schools and churches that were not being used enough. This was due to changing populations and rising costs.
In 2017, Dolan led a special Mass for John Curry, who was the youngest person to witness the famous Knock apparition in Ireland. Curry's remains were moved to a cemetery at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York City.
Becoming a Cardinal
Pope Benedict XVI made Dolan a cardinal on February 18, 2012. This is a very high honor and makes him an advisor to the Pope. As a cardinal, he is part of the College of Cardinals, the group that elects a new pope.
Dolan was seen as an influential figure in the 2025 papal conclave. This was the meeting where cardinals gathered to elect a new pope. Reports suggest he helped gather support for Robert Francis Prevost, who was chosen and became Pope Leo XIV.
Views and Public Life
Church Teachings
Cardinal Dolan has often spoken about the teachings of the Catholic Church. In 2012, he voiced concerns about a government rule that required Catholic organizations, like hospitals and universities, to provide health insurance that went against Church beliefs.
He also signed the Manhattan Declaration. This was a statement by Christian leaders who believe in protecting life from its beginning and supporting the traditional definition of marriage.
Social Issues
In 2020, after the death of George Floyd, Dolan spoke about racism and the police. He said that while most police officers are good people, the message of protesters against racism was also very important. He supported the idea that "black lives matter" and also said that "all lives matter" and "police lives matter."
He has also spoken against removing statues of historical figures. He argued that if we only honor perfect people, there would be very few people left to honor.
Responding to Difficult Times
Throughout his career, Dolan has had to lead the Church through difficult times. When he was a bishop in St. Louis, he was asked to investigate priests accused of bad behavior. He met with people who had been hurt and listened to their stories.
Later, as Archbishop of Milwaukee, he had to deal with the same problem on a larger scale. Documents showed that he moved money to protect it from lawsuits by people seeking payment for the harm they suffered. Dolan said these accusations were "old and discredited."
Images for kids
-
The Pontifical Irish College in Rome, where Dolan led an investigation in 2011.
-
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock in Ireland, which Dolan visited in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Timothy Michael Dolan para niños
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
