Illinois Bishop Ron Hicks may be appointed as the next archbishop of New York.
Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, is anticipated to be appointed as the next archbishop of New York, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has led the archdiocese for over 15 years. Sources indicating the forthcoming announcement, expected as soon as Thursday, have been confirmed by various media outlets including The Pillar and EWTN News.
Born on August 4, 1967, in Harvey, Illinois, Hicks was raised in South Holland, where he attended Saint Jude the Apostle Parish and grade school. His early experiences at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago, which he entered during middle school, cemented his aspirations towards the priesthood. Following his graduation in 1985, Hicks volunteered for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our Little Brothers) at one of their orphanages in Mexico, which provided him with valuable insights into the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
Upon returning to the United States, Hicks attended Niles College at Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1989. He continued his theological studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, obtaining both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree. Hicks was ordained into the priesthood on May 21, 1994, and served in multiple parishes across Illinois prior to relocating to El Salvador in 2005. There, he took on the role of director for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Central America, overseeing the care of more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries before returning to Illinois in 2010.
A protégé of Cardinal Blase Cupich, Hicks was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2015 and became an auxiliary bishop in September 2018. In 2020, he was designated as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet by Pope Francis.
Bishop Hicks’ appointment as the archbishop of New York may signal a shift in the archdiocese’s leadership style. Known for his progressive stance on social issues, Hicks is expected to align more closely with the values emphasized by Pope Leo XVI, particularly regarding social and economic justice, immigration reform, and efforts to alleviate poverty. Recently, he has been involved in initiatives addressing immigration, having co-signed a letter through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that advocates for human dignity and meaningful reform.
In addition to his advocacy for social justice, Hicks has expressed support for pro-life pregnancy centers in Illinois, standing against a state law that requires such centers to refer clients for abortions. His commitment to the teachings of the Church regarding the sanctity of human life—from conception to old age—reinforces his opposition to mandates perceived as conflicting with Catholic beliefs. As he prepares to assume his new role, expectations are high for Hicks to bring a compassionate and reformative approach to the archdiocese. As the community anticipates these developments, Hicks’ leadership will likely have significant implications for the future direction of the archdiocese.
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