New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says electing a new pope is all new to him since he's still learning what it means to be archbishop.

At a news conference Monday, Dolan quipped he was "still writing thank-you notes from when I was made a cardinal" last year.

He was responding to questions about Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he would resign Feb. 28 because he's simply too infirm to carry on. He would be the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.

As cardinal, Dolan would be part of the College of Cardinals electing a new pope.

In replying to questions, he said it would be "highly improbable" for him to be considered for the papacy. But joking with a reporter, he asked, "Is that why you're kneeling?"