New York: Faith leaders welcome new mayor - Bishop Barron expresses reservations

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Wiki Image by Dmitryshein

The first Muslim mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, was inaugurated as the 112th mayor on January 1, 2026. While some religious leaders joined multi-faith coalitions to support his vision, others expressed concern regarding his 'socialist ideology'.

Mamdani did meet with Cardinal Timothy Dolan in late 2025 to discuss shared concerns regarding immigration policies but has not met his successor, Bishop Ronald Hicks yet. The Diocese said a meeting is highly likely around the time of Bishop Hick's installation at St Patrick's Cathedral on 6 February. Mayors usually attend this event.

Speaking at the initial swearing in ceremony on Thursday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Catholic Congresswoman for New York's 14th District, said the people of New York City have "chosen historic, ambitious leadership in response to untenable and unprecedented times".

"New York, we have chosen courage over fear," she said. "We have chosen prosperity for the many over spoils for the few, and when the entrenched ways would rather have dig in our feet and seek refuge in the past, we have chosen instead to turn towards making a new future for all of us."

"In Zohran Mamdani, we have chosen a mayor who is relentlessly dedicated to making life not just possible but aspirational for working people. New York City has chosen the ambitious pursuit of universal child care, affordable rent and housing, and clean and dignified public transit for all, and we have chosen that over the distractions of bigotry and the barbarism of extreme income inequality."

On the day of the inauguration, a group of NYC religious leaders celebrated the contributions of faith communities to the civic life of New York, and highlighted the importance of a faith and community partnerships office with a direct report to the Mayor.

They said: "We look forward to working with the Mamdani administration, to support equity and inclusion for New Yorkers of all faiths and none.... We're eager to contribute to Mayor Mamdani's vision of a city that works for all New Yorkers. We can't wait to get to work! See their statements here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw_29UOmVY8

Father Michael Pfleger, from the parish of St Sabina in Chicago, told ICN: "I am very excited about the election of Mayor Mandani.... he brings a fresh breath into politics and brought thousands of individuals who had giving up on politics to reengage get involved. He has committed himself to be the voice of the forgotten people of America, and reshape a government that is for all. I also believe that he sends a message to the Democratic Party that if they are to survive they must embrace the model and message of Mandani. Against all odds and with no support he rose to power not because of a party or a machine but because he had the backing of the People."

Bishop Robert Barron, Bishop of Winona Rochester and founder of Word of Fire, made a very negative comment on X. He wrote: 'There was a line from Zohran Mamdani's inaugural address yesterday that took my breath away. He said he intended to replace "the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism."

'Collectivism in its various forms is responsible for the deaths of at least one hundred million people in the last century. Socialist and Communist forms of government around the world today - Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea etc - are disastrous. Catholic social teaching has consistently condemned socialism and has embraced the market economy , which people like Mayor Mamdaki caracatures as "rugged individualism." In fact it is the economic system that is based upon the rights , freedom, and dignity of the human person. For God's sake sake spare me from the "warmth of collectivism."'

Fr Dave McNaughton a Vincentian priest from Chicago, replied: "Bishop Barron is gaslighting. The use of the partial quote out of context of the text is telling. Reading the full text suggests that Mamdani was advocating for a very Catholic idea, the practice of solidarity. Shame on Bishop Barron."

In the full paragraph, Mamdani had said: "And if for too long these communities have existed as distinct from one another, we will draw this city closer together. We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism. If our campaign demonstrated that the people of New York yearn for solidarity, then let this government foster it. Because no matter what you eat, what language you speak, how you pray, or where you come from, the words that most define us are the two we all share: New Yorkers."

(Read the entire text on Mandani's speech here: www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/transcript-new-york-city-mayor-zohran-mamdani-delivers-inaugural-address/ar-AA1Tq02n )

Fr Jarek Pachocki, OMI, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate serving in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, commented: "With respect, Bishop Barron, Catholic social teaching resists both coercive collectivism and unchecked individualism. It calls us to solidarity, the common good, and a preferential option for the poor - where markets are judged by how they serve human dignity, not vice versa."

Fr Russell Pollitt a Jesuit parish priest from Johannesburg, South Africa, wrote: "Your interpretation is rather thin. Come to a country where capitalism has left millions living in squalor. Socialism is not the answer but collectivism, building community, might do us all better. Rather tackle serious injustice - have you spoken out against the evil of ICE?"