BENEDICT

BISHOP

SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD

TO OUR VENERABLE BROTHER TIMOTHY MICHAEL DOLAN, UNTIL NOW ARCHBISHOP OF MILWAUKEE, TRANSFERRED TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK, GREETINGS AND APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

BY VIRTUE OF OUR APOSTOLIC MINISTRY AS CHIEF SHEPHERD OF THE LORD’S ENTIRE FLOCK, WE EARNESTLY DESIRE TO PROVIDE FOR THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH OF NEW YORK, THAT ESTEEMED SEE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS CURRENTLY VACANT, OWING TO THE RESIGNATION OF ITS VENERABLE ORDINARY, HIS EMINENCE EDWARD MICHAEL EGAN, CARDINAL OF THE HOLY ROMAN CHURCH. ACCORDINGLY, ACCEPTING THE OPINION OF THE CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS, WE JUDGE IT BEST TO ENTRUST ITS GOVERNANCE TO YOU, VENERABLE BROTHER, ENDOWED AS YOUR ARE WITH PROVEN QUALITIES OF MIND AND HEART AND MUCH EXPERIENCE IN SACRED MATTERS.

THEREFORE, BY THE SUPREME AUTHORITY WE EXERCISE, WE RELEASE YOU FROM THE BOND OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE, AND WE APPOINT YOU METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. INDEED, WE MANDATE THAT YOU TAKE CARE TO HAVE THIS LETTER READ TO YOUR CLERGY AND TO YOUR PEOPLE; AND WE EXHORT THEM TO GIVE YOU A WARM WELCOME AND TO REMAIN IN COMMUNION WITH YOU.

FINALLY, VENERABLE BROTHER, HAVING FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, BE SURE TO SO CARRY OUT THIS NEW EPISCOPAL OFFICE THAT, WITH YOU LEADING THE WAY, THE FAITHFUL ENTRUSTED TO YOU MAY CONTINUE TO GROW STEADFAST IN FAITH, JOYFUL IN HOPE, AND, ESPECIALLY, FERVENT IN CHARITY, WHICH IS THE TRUE PATH, BY WHICH EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH ETERNAL LIFE.

MAY THE LIGHT, THE STRENGTH AND THE JOY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE VIRGIN MARY AS YOUR PROTECTRESS, BE ALWAYS WITH YOU, YOUR AUXILIARY BISHOPS, AND THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK, SO VERY DEAR TO THE ROMAN PONTIFFS, OUR PREDECESSORS, AND ALSO TO US AS WELL.

GIVEN AT ROME, AT ST. PETER’S, ON THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, IN THE YEAR OF THE LORD TWO THOUSAND NINE, THE FOURTH OF OUR PONTIFICATE.

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Marcello Rossetti

Protonotary Apostolic