Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the influential Archbishop of New York since 2009, made headlines this week as he submitted his mandatory resignation to Pope Francis upon turning 75 on February 6 – while simultaneously recounting an unexpected spiritual detour during a grounded transatlantic flight.
Resignation in Motion
Under Vatican rules, all bishops must offer to resign at age 75, though Pope Francis often delays acceptance for months or years. Dolan emphasized this uncertainty during a February 2025 interview on Sirius XM’s Catholic Channel, stating: “You don’t know exactly how long it will be before a resignation is accepted… recently it seems like between six and eight months.” His tenure since 2009 makes him one of New York’s longest-serving archbishops, overseeing a diocese spanning 2.8 million Catholics.
Stranded in St. John’s
Days before his birthday, Dolan’s United Airlines flight to Ireland was diverted to St. John’s, Newfoundland, on February 15 due to extreme winds. The cardinal spent three days with stranded passengers before delivering an impromptu homily at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Reflecting on the ordeal, he later wrote: “It became a pilgrimage of patience… a reminder that even disruptions can bear spiritual fruit.”
Legacy and Next Steps
Observers note Dolan’s resignation letter arrives amid broader transitions in U.S. Catholic leadership, with 10 American cardinals now over 75 awaiting replacements. Vatican experts speculate potential successors could include Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn or Bishop James Massa of Buffalo. Meanwhile, Dolan remains active – he recently criticized Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s immigration policies as “scurrilous” in a January 2025 statement and continues advocating for Catholic education reforms.
