Cardinal Dolan Comments on NYC Mayor’s Actions Toward Catholics

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who recently retired as the Archbishop of New York, shared his views on the decisions made by the newly elected Democratic Mayor, Zoran Mamdani, particularly regarding the local Catholic community.

Dolan, who held the archbishop position from 2009 until the end of 2025, expressed his disappointment over Mayor Mamdani’s choice not to include him in the inauguration ceremony on January 1, or to welcome Archbishop Ronald Hicks, Dolan’s successor. This interview with EWTN’s Mark Irons was made public on Friday.

“I was pretty upset about not being invited to the inauguration. Typically, the Archbishop of New York and other religious leaders are included. It bothered me that his transition team had so few Catholics involved,” Dolan noted.

“Plus, it was frustrating that he didn’t attend the inauguration of my successor,” Dolan added. Irons pointed out that it was unusual for a mayor to miss such an event, as this tradition goes back to 1939.

Interestingly, besides Dolan, no other Catholic leaders were extended an invitation to the mayor’s inauguration, according to a religious magazine. City Hall explained the mayor’s absence at Hicks’ inauguration due to unspecified scheduling conflicts.

In a city where about 32% of the adult population identifies as Catholic, Dolan also addressed Vice President J.D. Vance, whom he praised during the interview. “I think he’s a really nice person. I agree with a lot of what he says,” Dolan mentioned, but added that they sometimes differ in views.

“We had a little chat when he suggested that American bishops are pro-immigration for financial gain, which I responded is not only wrong but ridiculous. He did apologize for that,” Dolan recounted.

Generally seen as relatively conservative, Dolan expressed concerns about socialism, suggesting that individuals like Mayor Mamdani should question such an identification. Although he disagrees with some of the mayor’s beliefs, he remarked that he finds Mamdani to be refreshingly candid and ambitious.

Dolan directly inquired why people label Mamdani as a socialist, to which the mayor replied, “Because I am,” although he clarified he wasn’t a “political socialist,” but leaned more towards economic socialism.

Even after retiring, Dolan remains an influential figure in the Catholic Church, holding a cardinal position since being appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. He is among a small group of U.S. cardinals participating in significant events, including the recent election of America’s first pope, Leo XIV, at the 2025 Papal Synod.

In a notable historical contrast, Mamdani, as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, utilized multiple copies of the Koran during his swearing-in ceremonies.