Sarah Mitchell
New York has had a number of Catholic Archbishops, some of whom have gone on to become Cardinals. John McCloskey, the fifth Archbishop of New York, became the first cardinal from America in 1875. Since then, several other New York Archbishops have been elevated to the College of Cardinals, including Timothy M. Dolan, who has served as Archbishop of New York since 2009 and as a cardinal since 2012.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Cardinals from New York | 8 |
| First Catholic Cardinal from New York | John McCloskey |
| Year of elevation of the first Catholic Cardinal from New York to cardinal | 1875 |
| Current Catholic Cardinal from New York | Timothy M. Dolan |
| Year Timothy M. Dolan became Catholic Cardinal | 2012 |
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What You'll Learn
- John McCloskey, the first American cardinal, was from New York
- Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was made a cardinal in 2012
- Cardinal Terence Cooke, consecrated in 1969, managed decades of political turmoil
- Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, was appointed in 1939
- Cardinal John Farley, Archbishop of New York, was consecrated in 1919
John McCloskey, the first American cardinal, was from New York
John McCloskey was the first American cardinal and he was from New York. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 10, 1810, McCloskey was the son of Patrick and Elizabeth McCloskey, who had immigrated to the United States from Ireland shortly after their marriage in 1808. He was baptised by Rev. Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J., on May 6, 1810, at St. Peter's Church in Manhattan. At the time, Brooklyn did not have a Catholic church, so the family would row across the East River to Manhattan to attend Mass.
McCloskey was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of New York by Bishop John Dubois at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral on January 12, 1834, becoming the first native New Yorker to enter the diocesan priesthood. He then served as a parochial vicar at St. Patrick's Cathedral and as a chaplain at Bellevue Hospital. In February 1834, he became a professor of philosophy and vice-president at the newly established St. Joseph's Seminary in Nyack, but the seminary was destroyed by a fire in August of that same year.
In 1841, McCloskey became the first president of St. John's College, now known as Fordham University. He was also the second archbishop of New York, serving from 1864 until his death in 1885. During his tenure, he established 88 additional parishes in the Archdiocese of New York to accommodate the growing Catholic population.
In 1875, Pope Pius IX named McCloskey a cardinal, making him the first cardinal from the United States. As a cardinal, McCloskey participated in the First Vatican Council from 1869 to 1870, and voted in favour of papal infallibility. He also assisted in the coronation of Pope Leo XIII in 1878, who formally bestowed the cardinal's hat upon him.
John McCloskey, a native of New York, broke new ground as the first American cardinal, leaving a lasting legacy in the Catholic Church and particularly in the Archdiocese of New York.
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Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was made a cardinal in 2012
Timothy Michael Dolan, born on February 6, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of New York since 2009 and as a cardinal since 2012. He was appointed the tenth Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009, and was installed at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 15, 2009.
Dolan is the first archbishop of New York since 1946 not to receive the titular church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, as that title was still held by his predecessor, Cardinal Egan. He previously served as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome from 1994 to 2001, as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis from 2001 to 2002, and as Archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009.
On January 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI announced that Dolan would be appointed to the College of Cardinals. He was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Benedict XVI on February 18, 2012, and was created Cardinal Priest of the Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario church in Rome. As cardinal, Dolan has participated in the 2013 and 2025 papal conclaves, which elected Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, respectively.
Dolan is seen as representing conservative values. Notably, he has opposed same-sex marriage and abortion, and has criticized the contraceptive mandate enacted by the Obama administration in 2012. He has also addressed sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, describing them as "a continuing source of shame." In 2003, he requested that the Vatican expedite the laicization of priests whom he believed posed a "serious risk to children."
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Cardinal Terence Cooke, consecrated in 1969, managed decades of political turmoil
Cardinal Terence Cooke was consecrated in 1969 and managed decades of political turmoil. He was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of New York from 1968 until his death in 1983, quietly battling leukaemia throughout his tenure.
Cooke's conciliatory manner was useful as he was entrusted with the weighty task of leading the New York Archdiocese in the wake of Vatican II. He helped implement the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the archdiocese and adopted a more collegial management style than his predecessor, Cardinal Spellman. Pope Paul VI appointed him as Cardinal-Priest of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rome, in the consistory of April 28, 1969. At the time of his elevation, Cooke was the second-youngest member of the College of Cardinals after Cardinal Alfred Bengsch.
During his years as archbishop, Cooke received honorary degrees from at least four Catholic colleges: the College of New Rochelle (1968), the College of Mount Saint Vincent (1968), Boston College (1969), and Marymount Manhattan College (1978). He also received the James Cardinal Gibbons Medal (1979) from his alma mater, the Catholic University of America.
Cardinal Cooke was known as an approachable figure, gentle in demeanour, Irish and affable, but firm when needed. He founded nine nursing homes, including Kateri Residence and the Jeanne Jugan Residence, and created an Archdiocesan Housing Development Program. He advocated for the poor and suffering of New York and founded Courage International, the first formal intra-church program directed toward the same-sex-attracted. He also founded Birthright as a way to bring alternatives to women considering abortion.
In 1992, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints officially designated Cooke as a Servant of God, the first step in the process that leads to beatification and then canonization as a saint. On April 14, 2010, the Guild and senior American clergy presented Pope Benedict XVI with the positio, the documentation of the cardinal's life, work, and virtues. As of January 22, 2022, the canonization process is still ongoing.
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Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, was appointed in 1939
Cardinal Francis Joseph Spellman was appointed Archbishop of New York in 1939. He was one of the most influential American Roman Catholic prelates of the 20th century. Spellman was born in Whitman, Massachusetts, in 1889 and ordained in Rome in 1916, later serving as a priest in Boston. He became the first American assistant to the papal Secretariat of State in 1925, translating papal broadcasts and encyclicals into English. In 1932, he was appointed titular bishop of Sila and auxiliary bishop of Boston.
Spellman was appointed Archbishop of New York by Pope Pius XII, becoming the sixth person to hold this position. He was installed as archbishop on May 23, 1939, and inaugurated the first regularly scheduled Spanish-language masses in the archdiocese at St. Cecilia's Parish in East Harlem. During his tenure, he expanded the diocese's system of hospitals, orphanages, schools, and charitable agencies, undertaking new construction projects totalling over $500 million. Spellman also served as bishop for the U.S. Armed Forces, visiting troops and overseeing Catholic chaplains worldwide.
He became a close confidant of President Roosevelt, who sent him on a diplomatic mission to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East during World War II. Spellman's residence earned the nickname "the Powerhouse" due to his considerable national influence in religious and political matters. He hosted prominent figures, including statesmen, clergy, and politicians. In 1945, he instituted the annual Al Smith Dinner in Manhattan, a white-tie fundraiser for Catholic Charities attended by notable individuals.
Spellman was elevated to cardinal in February 1946 by Pope Pius XII. He wrote several volumes of poetry and a novel, The Foundling, published in 1951. He died in New York in 1967.
In total, eight archbishops of New York have been elevated to the College of Cardinals. The first American cardinal, John McCloskey, was the fifth Archbishop of New York and was elevated to cardinal in 1875. The current Archbishop of New York, Timothy M. Dolan, has served since 2009 and was elevated to cardinal in 2012.
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Cardinal John Farley, Archbishop of New York, was consecrated in 1919
Cardinal John Farley, an influential figure in the Catholic Church and a native New Yorker, reached a pivotal point in his religious career in the year 1919. This was the year of his consecration as Archbishop of New York, a position that would solidify his legacy in the religious history of the city and the nation.
Farley's journey to this esteemed position began decades earlier. He was born in 1842 in the heart of New York City, making him a rare native-born cardinal in a time when most cardinals were of European origin. Farley's family was deeply religious, and he felt a calling to the priesthood from a young age. He excelled in his studies and was ordained a priest in 1866 after completing his theological education at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, New York.
Farley's talent for administration and his dedication to his faith quickly became evident, and he rose through the ranks of the church. He served as secretary to several archbishops before being appointed Monsignor in 1891. In 1902, he became the Bishop of Salt Lake City, and just three years later, he was appointed Archbishop of New York, succeeding the renowned Archbishop Michael Corrigan.
However, it was his consecration as cardinal in 1919 that truly cemented his place in history. The consecration ceremony, a solemn and majestic affair, was attended by religious and civic dignitaries alike, reflecting Farley's impact on both the spiritual and secular realms of New York life. As cardinal, he wielded significant influence not only within the Catholic Church but also in the social and political landscape of early 20th-century America.
During his tenure as Archbishop of New York, Farley focused on improving the lives of immigrants and the poor, establishing numerous charitable organizations and supporting the expansion of Catholic education. He was also known for his strong stance against communism and his advocacy for the rights and freedoms of Catholic citizens. Farley's influence extended beyond the borders of his archdiocese, as he played a pivotal role in shaping Catholic thought and policy nationwide.
Cardinal John Farley's consecration in 1919 marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career, and his impact on the Catholic Church in New York and beyond cannot be overstated. His legacy continues to inspire and guide the religious community, serving as a testament to the power of faith and dedication.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been at least four Catholic cardinals from New York: Timothy M. Dolan, John McCloskey, Terence Cooke, and Cardinal Spellman.
John McCloskey was the first archbishop to be born in the United States and in what is now New York City. He became the first cardinal from America in 1875.
Timothy M. Dolan has served as Archbishop of New York since 2009 and as a cardinal since 2012.
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Catholic Church, often serving as an advisor to the pope and eligible to elect the pope.
