Mayor becomes first city leader in decades to miss archbishop investiture ceremony
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced mounting criticism for becoming the first mayor of New York City in nearly a century to skip the installation of a new archbishop of New York. The tradition of mayoral attendance dates back at least to 1939, when then-Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia attended the installation of Archbishop Francis Spellman, a historically significant moment in the city’s relationship with its Catholic community. Archbishop Ronald Hicks was installed on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the 11th archbishop of the New York Archdiocese, replacing Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation was accepted after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 under Catholic canon law. Despite being invited to the 2 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mamdani did not attend the ceremony, which was attended by hundreds of Catholic faithful, clergy, and civic leaders. The installation began only a few hours after an interfaith breakfast at the New York Public Library where Mamdani spoke, making attendance logistically feasible as the cathedral is a short walk up Fifth Avenue from the library. When questioned about his absence, Mamdani’s office initially claimed a scheduling conflict but later said the mayor had dispatched a Catholic deputy mayor to attend on behalf of the administration. Instead of attending the Mass, Mamdani participated in a winter weather press conference at 4 p.m., after the archbishop’s installation had concluded.
Critical Response from Catholic Leadership
The Catholic League, an advocacy organization representing Catholic interests, issued a sharp rebuke of Mamdani’s decision. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said the mayor signaled to Catholics that they are not welcome in his administration. Donohue noted that one in three New Yorkers is Catholic, making Catholics the largest faith community in the city by population. The Catholic League statement emphasized that Mamdani’s professed interest in diversity and inclusion hits a brick wall when it comes to Catholic New Yorkers.
Media and Community Response
The New York Daily News editorial board criticized Mamdani for being wrong and frankly rude to skip the investiture, calling it a significant event for New York Catholics and all Americans, as the New York archbishop is widely seen as the de facto leader of the American Catholic Church. The newspaper noted that Mamdani had 50 days notice of the installation after the Vatican announced Hicks’ appointment in December 2025, giving ample time to prepare his schedule.
Archbishop’s Gracious Response
Archbishop Hicks responded to the controversy with grace and professionalism. When asked about Mamdani’s absence, Hicks said he had not yet met or spoken with the mayor but expressed optimism about future collaboration. Hicks said he looked forward to meeting Mamdani and understanding areas of both agreement and disagreement, emphasizing his desire to work together for the common good despite political and ideological differences.
Comparison to Predecessors
Former Mayor Eric Adams offered his support to the Catholic Church, posting on social media that religious communities are foundational to New York City and that the Catholic Church’s daily service is indispensable. Adams extended a warm welcome to Archbishop Hicks, effectively contrasting his response with Mamdani’s absence. The New York Post noted that every mayor in recent memory has attended archbishop installations, and pointed out that even former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is Jewish, attended Catholic archbishop installations during his tenure, as did former Mayor Ed Koch.
