Cardinal Timothy Dolan introduced his successor, Archbishop-designate the Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks, at a press conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan Thursday morning, saying, “I already love him, and appreciate him, and trust him.” 

Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan on Thursday, appointing Archbishop-designate Hicks, currently the Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, as the 11th Archbishop of New York. 

Cardinal Dolan reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 earlier this year. His Eminence reflected on his nearly 17 years leading the archdiocese in a letter sent to its more than 1.5 million Catholics. 

Archbishop-designate Hicks, 58, was born in Harvey, Illinois, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1994. He served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago before being appointed Bishop of Joliet in 2020. He chairs the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. 

Cubs fan admires New York’s people, culture, food 

“Peace be with all of you,” the new archbishop said. “I have visited New York about 10 times, and every time I visited, I have said to myself, ‘I love it.’” He expressed his affection and admiration for New York’s culture, food, and energy, but especially its people. “I love the people from all over the world who come to this place and call it home.” 

He also noted that he grew up not far from another native Chicagoan, Pope Leo XIV, who is from nearby Dalton, Illinois. “I have a deep affinity with the Holy Father, and a tremendous respect and confidence in his leadership,” Archbishop-designate Hicks said, expressing his gratitude to the Pope for his appointment.  

Courting controversy, he noted that he is a fan of the Chicago Cubs and of Chicago deep-dish pizza, but that he plans to root for New York’s teams, and that he is already enjoying local pizza. He said that he will miss the clergy, religious, and the laity of his current Diocese of Joliet.  

Archbishop-designate spent years in Central America 

The newly-named archbishop also made a statement in Spanish, describing the time he has spent working and visiting Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and his five years in El Salvador, running a home dedicated to caring for more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children.  

Anticipating questions about his stances on various issues, he said, “I love Jesus with my mind, heart, and soul, and I strive to love my neighbor as myself. I desire to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and to do the will of God, serving with a shepherd’s heart. I trust and surrender my life and my will to God, and with great humility, I accept this appointment. I ask for your prayers, and I ask for your support as we take these next steps together. And with great gratitude, I ask God to bless us today and always.” 

Cardinal Dolan said that he offered Archbishop-designate Hicks the same advice that he received almost 17 years ago. “New York is a warm, welcoming city. They will love you, and you will come to love them. That worked. I love New York, I love this archdiocese,” he said.  

Sharing Chicago roots with Pope Leo XIV 

Archbishop-designate Hicks noted that he met Pope Leo in 2024, when he was still Cardinal Robert Prevost, when the latter spoke at St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox, Illinois, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet. The two then met for about 20 minutes after the talk. “We spoke about a number of topics. I found him to be extremely relatable. I do also like the fact that we grew up in the same area. We would have played baseball in the same parks, gone swimming in the same public pool, and we even share a famous pizza place that is our favorite. I respect his leadership, and I look forward to his guidance as we take these next steps.” 

“Did I accomplish what I set out to do? No. Because there’s always a lot left to do, and I’m glad he’s here to do it,” Cardinal Dolan said, pointing to his successor, and thanking God for His grace and mercy when he was both successful and unsuccessful. 

Referring to a pastoral letter that he released in October, Archbishop-designate Hicks said, “I want a Church that is thriving, that is growing, that is alive, that’s relevant, and we do it all in the name of Jesus. It’s worth belonging to, it’s life-changing, and we’ve had some great energy with it,” he said. 

Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishops Edmund J. Whalen, vicar for clergy, John Bonnici, Gerardo Colacicco, and Joseph Espaillat attended the event, along with Monsignor Joseph P. LaMorte, vicar general, Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop James Massa, rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, and Sister Mary Grace Walsh, superintendent of schools. 

Archbishop-designate Hicks will be installed on February 6, 2026, at a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cardinal Dolan has indicated that he will remain in the Archdiocese of New York following his retirement.