Cardinal Timothy Dolan Stays Active in New York Post-Retirement

Now that he’s retired, Cardinal Timothy Dolan continues to reside in New York, receiving offers for books and documentaries that keep him engaged in the public sphere.

The highly regarded former leader of the Archdiocese of New York, which is among the largest Catholic organizations in the U.S., recently addressed a variety of issues, from what he perceives as “high-handed tactics by ICE” to concerns about anti-Semitism.

Dolan emphasized the importance of border security but also urged the Trump administration to “try to de-escalate” the ongoing migrant sweeps impacting the nation.

“I’m kind of grateful that the president… is de-escalating things now,” Dolan, 76, mentioned during an interview.

After stepping down earlier this month, Dolan said he’s already been approached with several opportunities to write a book and create a documentary.

He has also received a multitude of invitations to visit the diocese, showing he still holds a significant presence within the community.

Dolan currently lives in a mansion on Fifth Avenue, conveniently located next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He shared that he felt nervous about moving to New York City initially, mentioning various stereotypes he’d heard, like people being “mean” or “cold.” He was appointed archbishop back in 2009.

However, those worries turned out to be unfounded. After just a few months in his new role, he found himself at a game at Yankee Stadium when he bumped into someone who recognized him. The fan joked about Dolan’s allegiances, asking if he was embarrassed to support the Cardinals, a team from his home state of Missouri.

The fan offered to buy him a drink, to which Dolan felt a spark of connection, thinking, “Bingo, I’m back!”

The archdiocese did not respond to inquiries regarding the transition, as the new archbishop, Ronald Hicks, took over leadership during a formal ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.