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'Affable' Dolan named new archbishop of New York

Pope Benedict named the 59-year-old archbishop of Milwaukee as the next archbishop of New York, the highest profile post in the US Catholic Church. By Madeline O'Connor - 24/02/09

Timothy Dolan, known as an affable and media-friendly priest, swill succeed 76-year-old Cardinal Edward Egan, who is retiring after almost nine years in the job.

Well known in Vatican circles, Dolan, a St Louis native, was long considered a cert for the post.

Dr Dolan, who was named archbishop of Milwaukee in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, is a former rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, an elite seminary which counts prominent US Church leaders among its alumni.

It is believed he will offer a different style of leadership than his predecessor, who was at times criticized for his stern approach and seeming distance from the clergy.

One US priest who knows Dolan from his time in Rome said, 'Dolan would clearly be the opposite of all that ... 'I think he'll be very good for New York. He is very much a bridge builder. He's an extrovert and energetic.'

Archbishop Dolan has strong connections to Ireland, in particular with the Mercy Sisters.

He has visited the country several times, most recently in 2006 when he led members of his diocese on a pilgrimage to re-trace the steps of St Patrick.

Dr Dolan’s new diocese is the second-largest in America, behind the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, serving 2.5m parishioners in nearly 400 churches.