As the Catholic Church in New York prepares for a major leadership transition, Bishop Ronald Hicks of Illinois has been appointed the next archbishop of New York. He will succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is stepping down after more than 16 years at the helm.
Bishop Hicks, 58, currently oversees the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. He will formally assume his new role in February 2026.
Bishop Hicks will become the 14th bishop and 11th archbishop to lead the Archdiocese of New York, according to Fox News. His installation Mass will be held Feb. 6, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and will be presided over by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States.
Speaking about the transition at a recent press conference, Cardinal Dolan expressed gratitude for the new archbishop.
“The last week since I found out, I’ve gotten to know him (Hicks). And I already love him and appreciate him and trust him,” Cardinal Dolan said at the press conference, according to Fox News. “Is there sadness in my heart? Sure. Because I love the archdiocese in New York. That sadness is mitigated by the gift that this new archbishop already is.”
Who is the new archbishop?
Bishop Hicks grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1994. He grew up just 14 blocks from where Pope Leo XIV was raised, he told Vatican News.
Throughout his early ministry, Bishop Hicks served in several pastoral assignments and held leadership roles in seminary formation. He later spent five years in El Salvador as the regional director for the Catholic charitable organization Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos.
After returning to Illinois in 2015, Bishop Hicks was appointed vicar general, a top adviser, to the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 2018, Pope Francis named him an auxiliary bishop, and in 2020, he became the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet.
In remarks following his appointment, Bishop Hicks emphasized faith, humility and service, and offered an early glimpse at what he may bring to New York.
“If you want to know the core of who I am and what I stand for, you should know this: I love Jesus with my mind, heart and soul, and I strive to love my neighbor as myself. My desire is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and to do the will of God, serving with a shepherd’s heart,” he added.
“I trust, and I surrender my life and my will to God, and with great humility, I accept this appointment. I ask for your prayers. I ask for your support as we take these next steps together.”
“I’m ready, with the help of God, to make this next step into New York,” Bishop Hicks said in the Vatican News.
Hicks’ arrival in New York comes at a significant moment for the city and the church. His leadership will coincide with Zohran Mamdani being sworn in as New York’s first Muslim mayor.
He also arrives during a challenging period for the Archdiocese of New York, which recently agreed to settle approximately 1,300 sex abuse claims, according to NPR and Religion News Service. The archdiocese is beginning to raise $300 million to compensate survivors and is in the process of selling Manhattan properties to meet financial needs.