Ronald Hicks Installed as 11th Archbishop of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Succeeding Cardinal Dolan
Bishop Ronald Hicks was installed as the 11th Archbishop of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at 2 p.m., in a ceremony that included the traditional door‑knocking, a reception by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Hicks holding up his papal appointment letter. Hicks framed his agenda as building a "missionary church, not a country club" that reaches the peripheries, passes the faith to younger generations and seeks areas of common good with civic leaders, and he has been described as a "Leo‑style" bishop aligned with the posture of the new American pope on issues such as immigration.
📌 Key Facts
- Bishop Ronald Hicks was installed as the 11th Archbishop of New York on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, with the installation Mass held at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and attended by Catholic leaders, laity, and representatives of other faiths, government, business, labor, education, the arts and first responders.
- The installation followed traditional ceremonial elements: door‑knocking with a metal hammer, Hicks holding up the pope’s appointment letter, and a formal reception and extended thanks to retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan, including well wishes for Dolan on his 75th birthday (Hicks said 'ad multos annos').
- Hicks succeeds Cardinal Timothy Dolan as archbishop of a large archdiocese of roughly 2.5 million Catholics covering Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and seven northern counties; Dolan is described as a prominent conservative in the U.S. hierarchy.
- Hicks framed his agenda as building a 'missionary Church' rather than a 'country club' — calling for 'missionary disciples' who 'build bridges,' go out to the peripheries, engage the world, focus on passing the faith to the next generations, and serve all people rather than only existing members.
- Hicks said there will be disagreements in politics and government but emphasized focusing on areas where the church and public officials can 'work on together for the common good.'
- Reporters and analysts described Hicks as a 'Leo‑style' bishop, noting he repeatedly referenced Pope Leo in his homily and that his leadership appears aligned with the posture of the new American Pope on issues such as immigration; Associated Press analysis suggested he may join other church leaders in pushing back on the Trump administration over immigration policy.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 07, 2026
7:15 PM
Bishop Ronald Hicks replaces Dolan as Archbishop of New York with installation at St Patrick's
New information:
- Confirms the installation ceremony took place Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with traditional door‑knocking using a metal hammer and reception by Cardinal Dolan.
- Includes Hicks’s initial public framing of his agenda, calling for a 'missionary Church, not a country club' focused on serving all people rather than just existing members.
- Notes Associated Press analysis that Hicks is seen as a 'Leo‑style' bishop under new American Pope Leo XIV and may join Church leaders pushing back on the Trump administration over immigration.
- Details ceremonial elements such as Hicks holding up Pope Leo XIV’s appointment letter and extended thanks to Dolan on his 75th birthday, wishing him 'ad multos annos.'
February 06, 2026
5:41 AM
Ronald Hicks to be installed as 11th archbishop of New York
New information:
- Confirms the installation Mass is at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and will include Catholic leaders, laity, and representatives from other faiths, government, business, labor, education, the arts and first responders.
- Reports Hicks’ own description of his vision: a 'missionary church' of 'missionary disciples' that 'builds bridges,' 'goes out to the peripheries,' 'engages the world' and focuses on passing the faith to 'the next generations.'
- Clarifies that Hicks will reference Pope Leo XI repeatedly in his homily and is seen as a 'Leo-style bishop,' aligning the New York archdiocese with the first American pope’s posture of challenging the Trump administration on immigration and other issues.
- Notes the scale of the archdiocese – roughly 2.5 million Catholics in Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and seven northern counties – and that Hicks replaces retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan, described as a prominent conservative in the U.S. hierarchy.
- Quotes Hicks saying that in politics and government there will be disagreements, but he wants to focus on areas where church and officials can 'work on together for the common good.'