It’s official, Pope Leo has appointed Archbishop-Elect Ronald Hicks of Chicago, but more recently the Bishop of Joliet as the new archbishop of New York City:
Resignations and Appointments, 18.12.2025
Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of New York, U.S.A.
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of New York, United States of America, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Ronald A. Hicks as metropolitan archbishop of New York, United States of America, transferring him from the diocese of Joliet in Illinois, United States of America.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Ronald Aldon Hicks was born on 4 August 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, in the metropolitan archdiocese of the same name. He attended Niles College Seminary, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Loyola University, Chicago. He was a volunteer for the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Foundation. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He subsequently qualified as a Doctor of Ministry at the same university.
He was ordained a priest for the metropolitan archdiocese of Chicago on 21 May 1994.
He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Our Lady of Mercy in Chicago (1994-996) and of Saint Elizabeth Seton in Orland Hills (1996-1999), dean of formation at Saint Joseph College Seminary (1999-2005), regional director of the charitable organization Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Mexico and El Salvador (2005-2009), faculty member and then dean of formation of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary (2010-2014), and vicar general (2015-2020).
He was appointed titular bishop of Munatiana and auxiliary of Chicago on 3 July 2018, receiving episcopal consecration the following 17 September.
On 17 July 2020 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Joliet in Illinois.
My most humble and astute comments:
While many worry that Cardinal Cupich has too much influence in the appointment of bishops in our country under both Pope Francis and now Pope Leo (Cupich is on the Dycastery of Bishops, btw), it appears to me and my most humble opinion that Archbishop-Elect Hicks is more a disciple of the late Francis Cardinal George of Chicago than he is of Cardinal Cupich.
Cardinal George was definitely into the Evangelical Catholicism of the pre-Francis Church.
Evangelical Catholicism which is all about a Jesus-centered (Christo-centric) Catholicism, is not dependent on the TLM but certainly would embrace its liberal celebration throughout the world and certainly embraces that most excellent motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum.
Evangelical Catholicism embraces a strong, orthodox Catholic identity, proud of both its orthodox liturgical tradition, old or new and strong in popular devotions, especially adoration of the Most Blesssed Sacrament, Benediction and Eucharistic processions.
Apart from its emphasis on Catholics by the grace of Jesus’ personal love for them, to have a deeply personal love for Jesus, there is also an emphasis on “knowing, loving and serving Jesus Christ in this life in order to be happy forever in heaven. Catholic identity is about now and eternal life in heaven, saved from the fires of hell by Jesus Christ. It is soteriological!
Evangelical Catholicism also emphasizes good, solid, orthodox catechesis and for lay Catholic in the public square to have the skills for good apologetics in the world.
Pope Leo is definitely within the school of Evangelical Catholicism as he too was greatly influenced by the late Francis Cardinal George and the two great popes prior to Pope Francis.
It appears to this most humble blogger that the new Archbishop-Elect Ronald Hicks is an Evangelical Catholic and this is good news for the Church in the USA!
For those too young to remember this movement, which is still present, but not touted at all during the Francis papacy, this is how John Allen described it pre-Francis and when he was a reporter for the National catholic Reporter:
John L. Allen Jr. defines "Evangelical Catholicism" as a primary trend in the 21st-century Church characterized by a drive for clarity and courage regarding Catholic identity.
- Defensive of Orthodox Identity: It represents a move toward an "unconventionally conservative" future that rejects the "liberal Catholicism" of the late 20th century in favor of a more assertive, traditional identity.
- The "John Paul II Generation": Allen identifies this as a bottom-up movement particularly palpable among younger Catholics who seek "serious" Catholic institutions and are less interested in the secular-leaning reforms of the past.
- A "One-Two Punch" with Charismatics: Allen notes that Evangelical Catholics and Charismatic Catholics share significant theological groundwork. He argues the future of the Church likely belongs to these groups rather than liberal wings.
- Manifesto and Intellectual Roots: Allen identifies George Weigel’s The Courage to Be Catholic as the manifesto of this trend. It is also heavily influenced by the legacy of Fr. Richard John Neuhaus and the journal First Things.
- Engagement with the Secular World: Far from being isolationist, Allen describes it as a drive to engage social and political questions with a distinctively Catholic voice, reclaiming these as "evangelical causes" rather than strictly "progressive" ones.
- Global Shift: While initially rooted in the West, Allen links this ethos to the rising "Southern Church" (Africa, Asia, Latin America), which is often more conservative on doctrine but aggressive on issues like economic justice and the environment.
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