Pope Leo Names Bishop Ronald Hicks New Archbishop of New York, Replacing Cardinal Dolan
Pope Leo XIV has replaced Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan as Archbishop of New York by appointing Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet, Illinois to lead the nation’s most visible Catholic archdiocese, a change that matters now as the church navigates abuse settlements and cultural tensions.
The transition signals a leadership shift after Dolan’s retirement at age 75, when his resignation was accepted by the Vatican this week. Hicks, known for a pastoral and missionary background, steps into a role long associated with high-profile cultural engagement.
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope Leo officially accepted Dolan’s resignation and named Hicks Metropolitan Archbishop of New York on Dec. 18, 2025. Hicks will oversee roughly 2.5 million Catholics and one of the largest archdioceses in the United States.
At a news conference alongside Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Hicks said he accepted the appointment “with great humility” and asked New Yorkers for their prayers and support as he begins his ministry in the city.
Follow The Coffman Chronicle on NewsBreak for daily breaking political coverage.
“I accept this appointment with humility and an open heart,” Hicks said in his first public remarks.
The change matters because it comes amid ongoing efforts to address a $300 million clergy abuse compensation program and evolving national debates over immigration and social justice, areas where Hicks’ experience and outlook contrast with Dolan’s more media-centered tenure.
Hicks and Pope Leo share roots in Chicago’s south suburbs, a connection noted by local reporters as a unique personal link in this high-stakes transition.
What happens next?
Hicks is scheduled to be installed as archbishop on Feb. 6, 2026 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with Dolan serving as apostolic administrator until then. That installation will mark the formal beginning of his leadership in New York.
Follow The Coffman Chronicle on NewsBreak for daily breaking political coverage.