Chicago, 19 December (H.S.):

Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born pontiff, has elevated Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as the new Archbishop of New York, succeeding the retiring Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in a move announced by the Vatican on Thursday .

This appointment, effective with Hicks' installation at St. Patrick's Cathedral on February 6, 2026, underscores shared Midwestern origins and a commitment to immigrant advocacy amid the Trump administration's deportation policies.

Hicks, 58, brings a pastoral resume marked by missionary service in Latin America, mirroring Pope Leo's own Peruvian tenure .Shared Heritage Forges Pontifical BondRonald Aldon Hicks, born August 4, 1967, in Harvey, Illinois, and raised in South Holland—a mere 14 blocks from Pope Leo's Dolton childhood home—embodies continuity with the first American pope .

Ordained in 1994 after seminary formation, Hicks served Chicago parishes before directing Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos orphanages in El Salvador from 2005 to 2010, aiding over 3,400 vulnerable children across nine nations.

Named auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 2018 and Joliet's bishop by Pope Francis in 2020, he met then-Cardinal Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) in 2024 during a Joliet parish event, forging a rapport that likely influenced this high-stakes selection.

Hicks assumes leadership as U.S. bishops, including himself, decry mass deportations affecting 61% Catholic migrants, urging reforms rooted in Gospel dignity. Last month, he endorsed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' letter opposing indiscriminate enforcement, emphasizing solidarity and due process amid Chicago-area clashes.

Contrasting Dolan's Trump ties—including inauguration prayers and Religious Liberty Commission role—Hicks prioritizes healing, pledging transparency on the Archdiocese's $300 million clergy abuse settlement fund.

Transition from Dolan's TenureCardinal Dolan, 75, from Missouri and New York archbishop since 2009, submitted his mandatory resignation in February per canon law, having participated in conclaves electing Popes Francis and Leo XIV ��. The Archdiocese serves approximately 2.5 million Catholics in America's media capital, navigating urban challenges from abuse scandals to policy frictions ��. Hicks vows faithful service from this ornate sanctuary, retaining his Chicago Cubs fandom while addressing New York's diverse flock �.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar