NEW YORK (WABC) — In a restructuring of the leadership of the American Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, as the next archbishop of New York following the formal resignation of Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
Cardinal Dolan turned 75 in February of this year and submitted his retirement letter to the Vatican at that time as required by the Catholic Church.
Now, Bishop Hicks will lead the 2.8M Catholics who make up the Archdiocese of New York.
Bishop Hicks, 58, has served as the Bishop of Joliet since 2020.
Hicks will be the 14th Bishop and 11th Archbishop of the See of New York.
Cardinal Dolan was a 59-year-old lifelong Midwesterner when he was chosen to lead the Archdiocese of New York. He served for 16 years in one of the most high profile, influential posts in the Catholic Church.
Dolan is known for his work abroad and in the U.S.
He traveled to Ukraine at the start of the war and even spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Dolan participated in the Conclave that elected Pope Francis in March, 2013. He also participated in the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May, 2025.
Dolan will leave Hicks with a few challenges:
Last week, the Archdiocese sold off real estate to help compensate sex abuse survivors. Additionally, New York, like many other places, is dealing with a priest shortage.
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