Imagine having this as a retained search...

The New York archbishop has been referred by the late Pope John Paul II as the "Archbishop of the world" in deference to the historically lofty position of the leader of the New York diocese. Considering that the Archbishop of New York is far more than a theological CEO - the outgoing Cardinal Edward Egan had to close a $48 Million budget deficit - this position is one that practically ensures the holder elevation to Cardinal and a far larger role in global Catholicism. At 59, it appear as if he'll be here for a long time.

Welcome to New Yawk, Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

I'll leave it to my more knowledgeable friends to speak of the Dolan's theological position but from what I read, Pope Benedict XVI selected Dolan for his experience and results in two critical areas: Financial leadership and Communications.

While overseeing the local Milwaukee community of 682,000 Catholics, he focused on stewardship and strict financial control and engaging the community much in the way a parish priest would engage the people in the pews. He'll need the same skills here where the diocese, with its 2.5 Million followers, is viewed as the "...one of the most complex and ethnically diverse archdiocese in the country, in a media capital of the world where he will be scrutinized by outside and special interests."

Dolan will now be a national leader all but assuring him a relationship with President Obama. Dolan's predecessor Cardinal Egan, has been viewed by us locals as distant; Dolan, I hear, would be as comfortable hoisting a cold one at McSorely's as he would speaking to his parishioners at Easter Mass.

Going to have to make a few calls and see if I can discover how recruiting really works at the Vatican.