Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York since 2009, made headlines this week after an unexpected detour to Newfoundland forced him to deliver a fiery homily addressing America’s immigration debate – while simultaneously navigating his own career crossroads as he turned 75.
The cardinal’s United Airlines flight from Newark to Ireland on February 15 was diverted to St. John’s, Newfoundland, due to severe winds. Stranded for days, Dolan presided over Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, where he drew parallels between the biblical Good Samaritan and modern immigration challenges. “Compassion isn’t conditional on paperwork,” he declared during the service.
This impromptu sermon followed Dolan’s sharp rebuke of Vice President JD Vance, who recently accused U.S. Catholic bishops of “exploiting migration for cheap labor.” Dolan called Vance’s remarks “scurrilous” and “a betrayal of our nation’s values,” emphasizing that Church leaders “advocate for human dignity, not political agendas”.
The drama unfolded as Dolan reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops on February 6, submitting his resignation to Pope Francis per Vatican protocol. While no successor has been named, experts speculate the Pope may delay acceptance given New York’s complex demographics and Dolan’s enduring influence as a conservative voice in American Catholicism. The archdiocese – serving 2.8 million Catholics – remains central to global financial and cultural networks.
Dolan’s unexpected Canadian detour marks his latest high-profile moment since becoming cardinal in 2012. His tenure has spanned clergy abuse scandals, COVID-19 church closures, and ongoing tensions between progressive and traditional Catholic factions. As one Vatican observer noted: “Replacing Dolan will require someone who can navigate Fifth Avenue boardrooms and South Bronx soup kitchens with equal ease”.
