Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s years as archbishop of New York were defined by a willingness to fight cultural battles, a knack for political diplomacy and an ability to charm even those who strongly disagreed with him.

“You bet we got a disagreement,” he told Fox & Friends in 2012, when he was a leading voice pushing back against the Obama administration over mandated health coverage for contraception.

“The government does not have the right to butt into the internal governance and teaching of the church,” he added.

What You Need To Know

  • Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s tenure as archbishop of New York ends Feb. 6, with the installation of Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks

  • Dolan was a vocal opponent of abortion rights expansion and same-sex marriage, while also cultivating close ties with city and state leaders

  • He worked with mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio on education, housing and moments of civic tension

  • Dolan was named archbishop in 2009, elevated to cardinal in 2012 and led U.S. Catholic bishops from 2010 to 2013

Dolan was vocal in opposing same-sex marriage and expanded abortion rights, taking his case to the halls of power in Albany.

“We feel a high responsibility to speak out for the baby in the womb. And whenever we see the abortion license being strengthened or consolidated or expanded, we get more and more worried,” Dolan once told lawmakers.

But Dolan also charmed political leaders, always managing to disagree without being disagreeable.

As he told NY1 in a 2010 interview, he preferred to lobby privately before going public, saying this about then-Mayor Micheal Bloomberg.

“Will there be issues? There will, I’m sure. And he knows it too. But boy oh boy, at least we’re on each other’s rolodexes, or at least we know how to get in touch with each other,” he said.

When Mayor Bill de Blasio took office in 2014, the two forged a close partnership.

“We are radiant about the emphasis that he’s put on universal pre-K,” he said during a press conference.

They worked together on education and affordable housing. Dolan also helped try to defuse tensions in the wake of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of police.

He earned not only the respect but the affection of elected leaders.

“He’s a good guy,” Bloomberg once said of him.

“He’s a lot of fun to hang around with, I have to tell you,” de Blasio said during his tenure.

And Dolan served as a political peacemaker; at the annual Al Smith charity dinner, a traditional stop on the presidential campaign trail, Dolan made Mitt Romney and Barack Obama — and even Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — appear, at least briefly, to be old friends.

But Dolan couldn’t avoid partisan politics, drawing criticism when he agreed to appear at the 2012 Republican National Convention; he subsequently accepted an invitation from the Democrats.

He also delivered prayers at both of President Donald Trump’s inaugurations.

Their friendly relationship — and Dolan’s regular appearances on Fox News — rankled some liberal Catholics, even as he remained embraced by New York’s left-leaning political class as a happy warrior with an irrepressible laugh.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s tenure as archbishop of New York ends Friday, Feb. 6, with the installation of his successor, Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks. Dolan celebrated his farewell Mass on Sunday, Feb. 1, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Dolan was named archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI in February 2009 after serving as archbishop of Milwaukee. He was made a cardinal in 2012 and served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2010 to 2013.