MANHATTAN — New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan will become one of 22 new cardinals, Pope Benedict XVI announced in Rome early Friday.
He will be elevated to the position on February 18, the Archdiocese of New York said.
"I am honored, humbled and grateful ...but, let's be frank. This is not about Timothy Dolan," the Archbishop said in a statement.
"This is an honor from the Holy Father to the Archdiocese of New York and to all our cherished friends and neighbors who call this great community home.
"It's as if Pope Benedict is putting the red hat on top of the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty, or on home plate at Yankee Stadium, or on the spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral."
Dolan's first call after getting the news was to his mom, he said after Friday mass at St Patrick's Cathedral.
"She said 'it's about time,'" he said.
"I was surprised that it came now. I hope it doesn't elevate my weight or blood pressure."
Becoming a cardinal was far beyond what he'd hoped for when he joined the church, he added.
"As a kid I only ever wanted to be a parish priest," he said.
Cardinals are senior advisers to the Pope and serve to elect a successors when they die.Dolan succeeded Cardinal Edwad Egan as New York's Archbishop in February 2009.
"This is wonderful news for the cardinal-designate and for the entire community of faith that he serves so well," said Egan in a statement.
Dolan is the eighth Archbishop of New York to be named a cardinal.
