NEW YORK - Pope Benedict XVI has announced that the Most Reverend Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will be elevated to the Cardinal in a Consistory to be held on February 18, 2012.

Archbishop Dolan released a statement today in which he expressed his gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI saying that he is "honored, humbled, and grateful."  He also thanked the people of the archdiocese of New York,

“This is about an affirmation of love from the Pope to a celebrated archdiocese and community, and a summons to its unworthy archbishop to serve Jesus, His Church universal, His vicar on earth, and His people better”, said Cardinal Dolan in a statement published on Archdiocese website.

Archbishop Dolan is the eighth Archbishop of New York to be named a Cardinal.