Pope Leo names Ronald Hicks next archbishop of New York

Pope Leo has named Archbishop Aldon Ronald Hicks, who, like the pope, is from the Chicago area and served in Latin America, as the next archbishop of New York.

Bishop Hicks, 58, will lead one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most populous and important posts in the United States.

He replaces retired Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 75, considered a conservative with close ties to President Donald Trump. Hicks said he accepted his nomination, announced Thursday, with “an open heart” and Dolan called it an “early Christmas present” for New Yorkers.

Last month, Hicks joined other bishops in condemning large-scale immigration-related arrests carried out by the Trump administration as part of its mass deportation program.

Hicks’ early life and pastoral career closely mirror those of Pope Leo. He grew up in South Holland, a short distance from Leo’s Dolton neighborhood in suburban Chicago.

While Pope Leo spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, Hicks worked in an orphanage in El Salvador from 2005 to 2010, according to a biography published by the Archdiocese of New York. Hicks was appointed bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in 2020.

Like the Pope, Hicks has been outspoken about his concerns about immigrants.

“Deeply rooted in our evangelical tradition of love of neighbor, this letter affirms our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters by expressing our concerns, our opposition and our hopes with clarity and conviction,” he said in response to a joint letter written by American bishops expressing concerns about the situation facing immigrants in the United States.

“It builds on the Church’s enduring commitment to Catholic social teaching on human dignity and a call for meaningful immigration reform,” he said.

The Trump administration has made large-scale immigration-related arrests in the Chicago area, sparking clashes between federal agents and residents protesting their presence.

The bishops’ letter comes as churches grapple with how to respond to immigration activities that affect their members.

The majority of those facing deportation are Christians, with 61 percent of the at-risk group being Catholics, according to a report from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Hicks will now leave his post as bishop of Joliet for the ornate sanctuary of Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he will lead 2.5 million Catholics in the nation’s largest city. He will be officially installed at the cathedral on February 6, 2026.

His appointment comes a week after Cardinal Dolan, who served in New York for about 16 years, announced that the archdiocese would create a $300 million fund to settle clergy sexual abuse claims.

“As a Church, we can never relax our efforts to prevent abuse, protect children and care for survivors,” the new archbishop said at a news conference.

“Even though this work is demanding, difficult and painful, I hope it continues to help in the areas of accountability, transparency and healing.”

Cardinal Dolan of Missouri announced his resignation in February, as required by Church law when bishops reach 75 years of age. He was named head of the Church in New York by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, who later named him a cardinal.

He participated in two conclaves, one that elected Pope Francis in 2013 and the second that elected Leo XIV last May.

The cardinal led prayers at both Trump inaugurations and was appointed by the president to the new Commission on Religious Liberty earlier this year.