Pope Leo XIV to appoint Bishop Hicks as New York archbishop replacement

Pope Leo

The information got here after Dolan despatched a compulsory retirement request to Pope Leo in February, as he reached his seventy fifth birthday.

“There are rumors that Pope Leo will settle for Cardinal Dolan’s resignation this week and appoint Bishop Ron Hicks to exchange him,” the supply informed Fox Information Digital.

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Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet is anticipated to be named the subsequent Archbishop of New York. (YouTube/Diocese of Joliet)

The supply additionally emphasised that “it could be very unusual to exchange a beloved cardinal earlier than Christmas.”

This newest growth alerts an impending shift within the management of one of the vital outstanding Catholic archdioceses on the earth, and simply earlier than Christmas.

Dolan has been Archbishop of New York since 2009, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him after his time period in Milwaukee.

Hicks, 58, may have emerged as a number one candidate due to his roots and fame within the Midwest.

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Cardinal Dolan joined Maria Bartiromo for an unique interview at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York Metropolis, (Fox Information/Screenshot)

Born in Harvey, Illinois, and raised in South Holland, Hicks was appointed Bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in 2020.

His ties to Illinois and the Chicago area, the place Pope Leo additionally grew up, will be seen as strengthening his place.

Talking concerning the pope shortly after his election in 2024, Hicks informed WGN-TV that the pope felt “relatable,” noting, “He is a standard man from a standard neighborhood that we grew up in.”

POPE LEO

Pope Leo XIV boards a airplane to Ankara at Rome’s Fiumicino Worldwide Airport, Italy, on November 27, 2025. (Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos)

On Monday, Rob Astorino, a Westchester County government with ties to Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York, shared a put up on X concerning the challenge.

“There are sturdy rumors that @Pontifex has accepted the resignation of @CardinalDolan and can appoint Bishop Ron Hicks of Joliet, Illinois,” the message stated.

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If confirmed, Hicks would additionally take over at a tough time for the Archdiocese of New York.

The church faces greater than 1,300 clergy intercourse abuse claims, prompting an pressing want to boost roughly $300 million in settlement funds.

On December 9, the archdiocese introduced it could compensate the victims Fox 5.

To fulfill these obligations, the archdiocese has applied layoffs, decreased its working finances by 10% and begun promoting off main actual property property.

It additionally introduced the sale of $490 million of the land beneath the Lotte New York Palace Resort, whereas one other $100 million is anticipated from the sale of the previous headquarters at 1011 First Avenue.

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Fox Information Digital has contacted the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Joliet for remark.