Pope Leo appoints Bishop Ronald Hicks to replace Cardinal Dolan as New York archbishop
Pope Leo XIV on Dec. 18, 2025, appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks, 58, currently of Joliet, Illinois, as archbishop of New York; a Chicago‑area native with Spanish fluency, missionary work in El Salvador (including five years with the orphanage network Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos), and formation and vicar‑general roles that allies say mirror the pope’s pastoral priorities. Media framed the selection as a move away from Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s more combative, Trump‑aligned public profile toward a lower‑key, pastoral leadership — Dolan finalized a $300 million abuse‑victim fund before the handover, Hicks has pledged to prioritize abuse prevention and survivor care, and has signaled support for pro‑migrant stances while largely avoiding partisan commentary.
📌 Key Facts
- Pope Leo XIV formally appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet as archbishop of New York on Dec. 18, 2025, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
- Hicks, 58, has served as bishop of Joliet since 2020 and is a Chicago‑area native from the city’s south suburbs; multiple reports note biographical parallels between Hicks and Pope Leo XIV.
- From 2005–2010 Hicks was regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in El Salvador and ran church orphanage programs in Latin America and the Caribbean; he is Spanish‑fluent and his missionary work is portrayed as central to his ministry.
- His background includes formation and senior administrative roles (dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary and vicar general in Chicago); colleagues describe him as an effective administrator, listener and decision‑maker with a strong focus on marginalized populations.
- Observers and outlets frame the appointment as a shift from Cardinal Dolan’s culture‑war, Trump‑aligned profile toward a lower‑key, pastoral style more closely aligned with Rome and Pope Leo’s priorities.
- Hicks has largely avoided partisan political commentary but publicly backed U.S. bishops’ messaging criticizing U.S. immigration policy and condemned immigration raids; reports link his stance to Pope Leo’s approach on immigration.
- Cardinal Timothy Dolan completed a $300 million fund to compensate sexual‑abuse victims in the Archdiocese of New York just before the handover; at his introductory news conference Hicks pledged to prioritize preventing abuse, protecting children and caring for survivors.
- Sources note the influence of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich — described as an ally of Francis/Leo — in the network that helped elevate Hicks; Dolan said he did not know Hicks before the selection but has since expressed trust and goodwill toward him.
📊 Relevant Data
Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are significantly less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born individuals.
Immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than the U.S. born — Congress.gov
The decline in U.S.-born Latinos identifying as Catholic is attributed to factors including the clergy sexual abuse scandal, lack of LGBTQ inclusivity, and the rule that women cannot be priests.
Survey: US-born Latinos now more likely to be 'nones' than Catholic — Chicago Catholic
Migration from Latin America to the U.S. is primarily driven by violence, extortion, organized crime, poverty, corruption, and lack of economic opportunities.
Why Six Countries Account for Most Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border — Council on Foreign Relations
The Archdiocese of New York has announced a $300 million settlement to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse, addressing more than 1,300 claims.
New York archdiocese announces $300 million settlement for victims of clergy abuse — Catholic Times
📰 Sources (5)
- Confirms timing and framing that Pope Leo XIV named Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet as the new archbishop of New York on Dec. 18, 2025.
- Details that Cardinal Timothy Dolan finalized a $300 million fund to compensate sexual‑abuse victims who had sued the Archdiocese of New York, just before the handover.
- Includes Hicks’ pledge at his introductory news conference: 'we can never rest in our efforts to prevent abuse, to protect children and to care for survivors,' tying his leadership to accountability and transparency.
- Notes that Dolan said he did not know Hicks before his selection, but in the week since 'already love[s] him and appreciate[s] him and trust[s] him.'
- Reiterates Hicks’ background as a Chicago‑area priest who ran a church orphanage program in El Salvador and other Latin American/Caribbean countries and portrays him as aligned with Pope Leo’s immigration stance.
- Adds Hicks’ November endorsement of a U.S. bishops’ message condemning Trump‑administration immigration raids, especially in Chicago.
- Confirms Pope Leo XIV has formally appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as archbishop of New York.
- Notes Hicks is 58 years old and currently serves as Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, a role he has held since 2020.
- Adds that Hicks, like Pope Leo, is from the Chicago suburbs and was originally appointed Joliet bishop by Pope Francis.
- Axios explicitly frames the appointment as a decisive shift away from Cardinal Dolan’s culture-war conservatism and close alignment with President Trump toward a lower-key, pastoral style aligned with Rome.
- The article emphasizes Hicks’ Spanish fluency and missionary work in El Salvador with orphaned and abandoned children, paralleling Pope Leo’s missionary work in Peru.
- It notes that both Hicks and Pope Leo grew up in Chicago’s south suburbs, adding biographical context to their alignment.
- Axios recounts Dolan’s controversial praise of Charlie Kirk as a 'modern-day St. Paul' after Kirk’s assassination and the backlash from other Catholics who cited Kirk’s racist statements about Latinos.
- The piece highlights that Hicks has largely avoided political commentary but publicly backed the USCCB’s 'special message' criticizing U.S. immigration policy and affirming 'God-given human dignity.'
- Article emphasizes biographical parallels between Pope Leo XIV and Ronald Hicks, including both growing up in neighboring Chicago suburbs, playing in the same parks and frequenting the same pizza places.
- Details Hicks’ five years in El Salvador (2005–2010) as regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a home for orphans and abandoned children, and frames this Latin American experience as central to his ministry.
- Quotes Rev. John Kartje describing Hicks’ leadership style as combining high‑level administrative capability with a strong focus on marginalized populations and noting his effectiveness as a listener and decision‑maker.
- Highlights the role of Cardinal Blase Cupich as a close Francis/Leo ally whose influence is seen in Hicks’ rise, including Cupich’s role in the conclave that elected Leo.
- Explains how Hicks’ formation roles (dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary and later vicar general in Chicago) shaped his administrative and pastoral profile, considered key to his New York appointment.