Cardinal Dolan Eyes Book and Documentary Projects After Stepping Down

After 16 years as the bold, unapologetic shepherd of New York’s Catholic community, Cardinal Timothy Dolan is stepping down but not stepping away. In a recent interview, Dolan revealed he has already received offers to write a book and participate in a documentary exploring the status of the Catholic Church in America.

“I even got an offer to write a book. I got an offer to do a documentary on the status of the Church in the United States,” Dolan told Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. “So things come in, and I’m going to kind of appreciate the chance to set my own schedule.”

Dolan officially submitted his resignation in February after turning 75, in accordance with Church canon law, which requires all bishops to offer their resignation to the Pope. Two weeks later, the Vatican accepted.

The Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Leo has selected Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as Dolan’s successor marking a major shift in the leadership of the powerful Archdiocese of New York, home to 2.8 million Catholics.

Though technically retired, Dolan will continue to serve as apostolic administrator until Hicks formally takes office on February 6 at a ceremony held at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

The transition follows a wave of changes under Pope Leo, who has already shown a preference for low-profile clerics aligned with the globalist-friendly, reformist tone of the late Pope Francis. By contrast, Dolan has been a towering conservative presence in the Church, known for his fearless defense of traditional values and outspoken criticism of the culture war’s most toxic ideologies.

• Dolan led the Archdiocese since 2009, serving through turbulent years for both the Church and the nation.

• He became a household name not only through his leadership but via his SiriusXM radio show and frequent appearances on Fox & Friends.

• Dolan has remained firm on core issues like religious liberty, sanctity of life, and parental rights, making him a target for left-wing critics but a champion for millions of faithful Catholics.

With book and documentary offers already lining up, Dolan may soon move into a new phase of public influence, unrestrained by the daily administrative duties of the Church. It’s a development that could provide a powerful counterbalance to the increasingly soft-spoken tone coming out of Rome and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“People know when you turn 75 any bishop pretty soon he’s going to be retired,” Dolan said. “So, people know that, and they’ll start writing you. I got some requests... to maybe teach a course, go to some universities, maybe take a sabbatical.”

While his replacement, Bishop Hicks, is widely viewed as more in line with the Vatican’s progressive current, Dolan’s voice is far from retiring. His next chapter may not come from the pulpit but it could very well shape the conversation around faith, family, and the future of the Church in America.

As the culture continues to spiral and silence traditional voices, Cardinal Dolan isn’t going quietly. He’s just getting started.

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