New NY Archbishop Ronald Hicks expected to stick to Catholic church doctrine — and be ‘more careful’ with what he says
New York’s next archbishop is being hailed as a “unifier” who will stick closely to the Pope’s teachings—though he isn’t likely to become a frequent guest on television anytime soon. Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Ronald Hicks Jr., currently heading the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., to take over the city’s most prestigious Catholic post.
After the outspoken Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who will step down at year‑end, the Holy See opted for someone who will quietly uphold church doctrine. “I think Hicks will be much more like Pope Leo—more careful about his words. In his first year as Archbishop he’ll keep clear of political battles and focus on pastoral care,” Jesuit Thomas J. Reese, a top analyst for Religion News Service, said to The Post.
Dolan broke the mold when he served as New York’s archbishop, but the new appointee will tread a more conventional path. Reese noted, “Hicks is the kind of bishop who likes to be informed, approachable, and dedicated. He won’t attack political leaders, but he also won’t embrace them either.” As a result, Reese says Hicks aligns closely with most American Catholic bishops.
Rick Hicks, Ronald’s younger brother and an IT consultant in Naperville, said, “New York is getting a good one.” The brothers grew up in a mixed‑faith household—father Roman Catholic, mother Lutheran—just a few blocks from the Pope’s childhood neighborhood. Rick recalled sharing parks, pools, and pizza spots with his brother before the Pope was named a pontiff.
Hicks, a lifelong Cubs fan, likes the Pope’s midwestern roots and shares his fondness for Latin American work and fluency in Spanish. He has already voiced support for the traditional Latin Mass and orthodox practices in his diocese, and a Catholic writer, Emily Zanotti, predicts those commitments will continue in New York.
When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Hicks praised the verdict as the culmination of decades of prayer, while lamenting that Illinois law would not change immediately. He also expressed deep sorrow over Illinois’ new assisted‑suicide law, echoing Cardinal Dolan’s message that such measures violate the dignity of all human life.
Hicks’ positions on same‑sex marriage and transgender issues echo Pope Leo’s. “The church is not going to change that any time soon,” Zanotti told The Post. “I expect Hicks will follow Pope Leo’s leadership style—keeping the American church united.”
The Pope and Hicks met only once in 2024, when Leo, then Cardinal Robert Prevost, visited a Joliet parish. Hicks described Leo as “someone who listens more than he talks” and who faces tough topics head‑on.
During a press briefing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Hicks shared his excitement about meeting New York’s people, noting he’d only been there about ten times before his appointment. He will officially become archbishop on Feb. 6 next year, a position that oversees a vast metropolitan area but does not yet carry the title of cardinal.
Rick emphasized that the family keeps politics out of their lives. “He treats people with humanity and dignity—values that are academic foundations,” he said. “We’re not left or right; we separate church from politics.”
Hicks’ upbringing on the sports sidelines—watching Cubs, Bears, Hawks, and Bulls—together with his academic and missionary background, shaped him. After a valedictorian high school class, he spent a year volunteering at a Mexican orphanage before earning a philosophy degree from Loyola University Chicago. He then returned to Latin America from 2005 to 2010 as a regional director for a Catholic charity, caring for thousands of children in Central America and the Caribbean.
Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Joliet in 2020, where he shepherded about 525,000 Catholics across seven counties. The New York archdiocese serves 2.5 million Catholics in the boroughs and surrounding counties.
Despite his deep devotion to faith, Hicks is also a culture enthusiast. He enjoys fine dining, theater, and had once taken his parents to see Bette Midler in “Hello, Dolly!” in New York. Rick remembered him raving about the show, noting that Hicks loves attending cultural events.
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