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The Archdiocese of New York welcomes a new leader today as Ronald Hicks officially takes over for retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan during a ceremonial installation at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The installation ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, will begin with Archbishop Hicks knocking three times on the cathedral door, followed by a reading of the Papal letter installing him as the new archbishop. Hundreds of priests, bishops, and cardinals are expected to attend the ticketed event in Midtown Manhattan.
"This is a real historic occasion for one of the largest archdioceses in the United States," said David Gibson, Director of Religion and Culture at Fordham University, who compared the ceremony to a presidential inauguration.
The 58-year-old Hicks comes to New York from Illinois, where he served as bishop of Joliet, overseeing about 520,000 Catholics. In New York, he'll lead an archdiocese serving approximately 2.5 million Catholics across Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and seven counties to the north.
During a news conference on Thursday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Hicks outlined his vision for the archdiocese, emphasizing evangelization and reengagement. "How do we actually be disciples, who do we make disciples?" Hicks said. "People who have been a part of the church but maybe not so much — How do we reengage? How do we pass the faith on to the next generation? How do we be a church that is thriving and relevant?" according to remarks reported by Crux.
Hicks has requested that the liturgy at his installation also be said in Spanish, reflecting his background working for five years in El Salvador heading a church-run orphanage program. His message for immigrants emphasizes the church's teachings on social justice and human dignity.
The leadership change represents a significant new chapter for the U.S. Catholic Church under Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Hicks, who grew up near Leo's childhood home in the Chicago area, is seen as aligned with the pope's vision and priorities.
"You are going to notice that I am going to reference a number of times Pope Leo the 14th," Hicks said during his homily. "I will strive always to be obedient and respectful to him and also collaborate with his vision."
Hicks takes over after Cardinal Dolan, who had served since 2009, finalized a plan to establish a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who had sued the archdiocese. Dolan, a prominent conservative figure in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy, had submitted his resignation in February 2025 when he turned 75, as required by church law.
Looking ahead, Hicks expressed interest in working with New York's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. "What I'd like to do as archbishop is understand that in politics, in government, there are going to be things that we disagree on, but I'd also like to make sure we pay attention to what are those things we can work on together for the common good," Hicks told reporters.
Cardinal Dolan will retain his red hat and voting powers in any Papal Conclave until his 80th birthday, four years from now, at which time Pope Leo may elevate Hicks to Cardinal.
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