NEW YORK — Timothy Michael Dolan was named Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009. Nearly three years later, Benedict, made the announcement on Friday that Dolan is assigned to being Cardinal among other 21 prelates from Hong Kong, Berlin, Prague, Toronto and Florence.

Dolan, 61, said in a news conference that he is “honored, humbled, and grateful” by his promotion. Vatican Radio carried the report, which will officially take place Feb 18th. in Rome.

“The Big Apple has twice as much say about who becomes the next Pope,” stated the Daily News. This is due to Dolan’s age, and the fact that Cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote in papal elections, as the New York Times defined it.

Since the late 19th century, nearly all the archbishops, eight of ten of New York have been named cardinals.

Archbishop Dolan is the current president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and has led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York for  three years.

“There will probably be a few more trips to Rome – a few more plates of gnocchi,” Dolan joked.

About The Author

Melisa Stumpf is a Blast New York correspondent

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