Calling the diverse New York Archdiocese "a real icon, a snapshot of the church universal, of the church in the United States," Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan pledged his life, his heart and his soul to the people of the archdiocese Feb. 23.

Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Dolan, head of the Milwaukee Archdiocese since 2002, to succeed the retiring Cardinal Edward M. Egan. He is to be installed as New York archbishop April 15.

At a press conference in the New York Catholic Center, Archbishop Dolan said, "I can tell you already that I love you. I need so much your prayers and support. I am so honored, humbled and happy at the prospect of serving as your pastor."

As pastor, he said he has "a sacred mandate to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how the church transmits his mystery, his ministry and his invitation."

He said the message is intended to serve everybody. "Nothing foreign is alien to us. That's part of the Catholic chemistry. We're not just sacristy, not just sanctuary, not just Sunday people.

"The church through the ages has been a hyperkinetic partner of the arts, literature, health care and immigrants," he added. "Look to us to continue that partnership."

In Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony congratulated the new archbishop. "I have known Archbishop Dolan for many years, and he brings to the great metropolitan see of New York a deep knowledge of the issues affecting the Church and civil society," said Cardinal Mahony. "Archbishop Dolan also has a deep love for his priesthood and for priests, and he will surely make them a high priority over the coming months and years."

Additionally, the cardinal said, "Archbishop Dolan possesses a delightful sense of humor. His outgoing personality and temperament, combined with his great capacity for compassion, will be a wonderful gift to all the people of New York."

Archbishop Dolan promised to do whatever he could to affirm the priests of the archdiocese. "The vitality of this great archdiocese is in its parishes," he said. "The priests are on the front lines. I am their servant. You can count on me to help them.

Archbishop Dolan said in his role as pastor he would engage, rather than confront, public officials on the importance of respecting the civil rights of the most vulnerable, especially the unborn.

"I'd like to think it wouldn't be limited to politicians," he said. "I'd hold everybody accountable to the teachings of natural law and the church I'm proud to represent."

Archbishop Dolan said he based his leadership style on his mother's advice to "be yourself." He said bishops and priests crave silence and have a deep, quiet center. "I hope from that comes a sense of joy and hope," he added.

Archbishop Dolan said the Latino contribution of vitality and celebratory, joyful faith as well as a sense of pride in family is a "tonic to the Catholic Church in the United States." He said the church historically is the most successful, effective agency that welcomes immigrants and helps them become productive members of society and the New York Archdiocese has been a leader within the church.

"What Lady Liberty is socially, holy mother church has been spiritually when it comes to our beloved immigrants," he said.

He said he wants to continue to improve his Spanish, which he said now allows him to celebrate Mass and the sacraments and preach "a very simple homily."

Archbishop Dolan said bishops have to live in the real world and face the challenges of some people leaving the church and others not participating in the sacraments. "We'd be less than honest if we didn't say we've got problems," he said, but there have been struggles in the church since the days of the Acts of the Apostles.

Archbishop Dolan said he and Cardinal Egan had spoken on the telephone to representatives of other religious groups in New York. He said he embraced ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and might be described as "energetic" in doing so in Milwaukee.

He said he is involved in Catholic-Jewish dialogue on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and finds it "intensely rewarding and enriching."

Archbishop Dolan said Catholic schools in New York are "in great shape now" but are a constant concern. Speaking as a church historian, he said keeping schools on a firm financial foundation has been a challenge from the beginning.

"There's never been an easy time," he said. "That's part of our grit. We have to struggle for every dime and muster every ounce of strength to keep them strong. Count on me to be a front-line cheerleader for Catholic schools."

Archbishop Dolan said his heroes included Jesus Christ, Pope John Paul II and his parents.

He sidestepped a question about proposed state legislation that would expand the time limit for victims of clergy sexual abuse to file civil suits against the archdiocese. "That's an area of such delicacy and precision that I'll have to study it hard," he said.

Cardinal Egan said Archbishop Dolan "has come here to deepen our faith, to lead us in prayer and guide us in the works of justice, compassion and peace. The Holy Father has chosen well."

The cardinal said although some people had expected him to get involved in nonreligious, political issues, he chose to focus his efforts on parishes, charities, schools and health care and "the faith being announced."

He said his "greatest sadness" was not having "done better with vocations." He said the archdiocese was only now seeing a spurt in vocations, which might be attributed to a number of factors including the 2008 visit of Pope Benedict XVI to New York.

Cardinal Egan is the first archbishop of New York to retire. He said he would live in one of the parishes of the archdiocese and be available to his successor to celebrate Masses and officiate at funerals and confirmations.

"You're hired," Archbishop Dolan said. "I'm glad you'll be here. I need you."

Asked if his Irish heritage was a factor in his appointment to a see that has traditionally been led by an Irishman, Archbishop Dolan quipped, "It's a sign of the Holy Father's infallibility."

Cardinal Egan introduced Archbishop Dolan at the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick's, which they concelebrated. After Mass, they visited the crypt under the main altar where their predecessors are entombed.

After the press conference, Cardinal Egan and Archbishop Dolan addressed the staff of the New York Catholic Center at St. John the Evangelist Church, receiving a standing ovation.

---CNS