Pope Leo names Ronald Hicks next archbishop of New York

December 18, 2025

Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Aldon Ronald Hicks, 58, as the new archbishop of New York, succeeding the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Hicks, who shares Chicago-area roots and Latin American missionary experience with Pope Leo, will oversee 2. 5 million Catholics in one of the most significant Catholic posts in the United States.

Who is affected

Bishop Aldon Ronald Hicks (being appointed to new position)
Cardinal Timothy Dolan (retiring after 16 years)
2.5 million Catholics in New York City archdiocese
Immigrants and their families facing deportation in the United States
Christians at risk of deportation (particularly the 61% who are Catholic)
Survivors of clergy sex abuse seeking settlements
Residents of the Joliet diocese (losing their bishop)

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is carrying out large-scale immigration arrests in the Chicago area
Federal agents are conducting immigration enforcement operations
Residents are protesting the presence of federal agents
Churches are grappling with how to respond to immigration activity affecting their members
The archdiocese is setting up a $300 million fund to settle clergy sex abuse claims

Why it matters

This appointment is significant because the New York archdiocese is one of the most populous and important Roman Catholic postings in the United States, overseeing 2.5 million Catholics in the nation's largest city. The selection of Hicks represents a potential ideological shift from the conservative, Trump-aligned leadership of Cardinal Dolan to a bishop who has been outspoken in opposing the current administration's immigration policies, at a time when the majority of deportation-vulnerable individuals are Christians, with 61% being Catholic. The appointment also comes at a critical moment as the archdiocese addresses its legacy of clergy sex abuse through substantial financial settlements.

What's next

Bishop Hicks will officially be installed at St Patrick's Cathedral on February 6, 2026
The archdiocese will continue efforts in accountability, transparency, and healing related to clergy abuse prevention and survivor care

Read full article from source: BBC