Bishop Ronald Hicks Appointed Archbishop of New York
Pope Leo has named Bishop Aldon Ronald Hicks as the next Archbishop of New York, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is retiring at 75. Bishop Hicks, 58, accepted the appointment, which was announced on Thursday. Cardinal Dolan referred to the appointment as an "early Christmas gift" for New Yorkers.
Background and Prior Service
Bishop Hicks, originally from South Holland in the Chicago area, has a pastoral career that includes service in Latin America. From 2005 to 2010, he worked at an orphanage in El Salvador. He was appointed bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in 2020. Bishop Hicks' background is similar to that of Pope Leo, who also originated from the Chicago area and served as a missionary in Peru for two decades.
Stance on Immigration
Bishop Hicks has expressed concerns regarding immigration policies. Last month, he joined other bishops in condemning immigration-related arrests conducted by the Trump administration as part of its deportation agenda. He commented on a joint letter by US bishops, stating it was "grounded in the Church's enduring commitment to the Catholic social teaching of human dignity and a call for meaningful immigration reform" and affirmed "solidarity with all our brothers and sisters."
The Trump administration had conducted large-scale immigration arrests in areas such as Chicago, which led to protests from residents. A report by the US Catholic Bishops Conference indicates that 61% of individuals at risk of deportation are Catholic.
New Role and Responsibilities
Bishop Hicks will transition from his position as bishop of Joliet to lead the Archdiocese of New York from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. In this role, he will serve approximately 2.5 million Catholics in the city.
Recent Developments in the Archdiocese
The appointment follows an announcement by Cardinal Dolan, who has served in New York City for 16 years, that the archdiocese would establish a $300 million fund to address claims of clergy sex abuse. Regarding this, the incoming archbishop stated, "While this work is challenging, it's difficult, it's painful, I hope it will continue to help in the areas of accountability, transparency and healing."