ROME and NEW YORK -- Pope Leo XIV appointed on Thursday Bishop Ronald A. Hicks as archbishop-designate of New York, moving a fellow Chicagoan to one of the highest Catholic posts in the United States.
Hicks will replace 75-year-old Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, whose resignation was accepted by the Vatican. Hicks most recently served as the bishop of Joliet, Illinois, a suburban Chicago diocese.
Just hours after being introduced at a news conference, Hicks went to work, participating with Dolan in an Advent Christmas Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he received loud applause from parishioners.
"Cardinal Dolan to you and to everyone who is here, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say, thank you, thank you for such a gracious welcome," Hicks said during the Mass. "This has been an extraordinarily unforgettable day for me. I will never, ever forget it. My head is still kind of swimming and I’m still processing all of it."
Earlier on Thursday, Dolan introduced the 58-year-old Hicks at a news conference at St. Patrick's, saying, "St. Nicholas has left us an early Christmas gift in the appointment by Pope Leo XIV of our new archbishop, Ronald Hicks."
"In the last week since I found out, I've gotten to know him, and I already love him and I appreciate him and trust him," Dolan added. "Is there sadness in my heart? Sure, because I love the Archdiocese of New York. That said, this is mitigated by the gift that this new archbishop already is."
Introducing himself, Hicks said his parents, Ron and Rosalie, raised him and his brother in South Holland, Illinois, which he pointed out is a Chicago suburb next to Dalton, the hometown of Pope Leo.
"Our houses are literally 14 blocks away from each other," Hicks said. "I would like to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for this appointment."
He added, "We grew up literally in the same radius, in the same neighborhood together. We played in the same parks, went swimming in the same pools, liked the same pizza places. I mean, it's that real."
Hicks said that he had previously visited New York City on 10 different occasions.
"And every time I have visited, I have said to myself, 'I love it,'" he said. "I love the culture, the food, the energy, the plays, the neighborhoods. But especially, I love the people. I love the people who come from all over the world who call this place home."
Hicks said he received word of his appointment from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Church's Apostolic Nuncio.
"When he called me to share the appointment, I told him that simply I want to do the will of God," Hicks said. "I asked him to tell the Holy Father that I say yes with great humility and that I accept this appointment with an open heart."
Hick made what he described as "my first controversial statement."
"I'm a Cubs fan, and I love deep-dish pizza," he said. "That said, I want you to know that I'm going to remain a loyal Cubs fan. However, I'm going to start rooting for New York sports teams and I already love your pizza. I love it a lot."
Hicks was born in Chicago and ordained a priest in 1994, according to his biography. He holds a doctor of ministry from University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.
As Leo was elevated to the papacy in May, Hicks told WGN-TV, a Chicago broadcaster, that Hicks recognized "a lot of similarities between him and me."
During Thursday's news conference, Hicks praised the leadership of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet, saying, "It's a wonderful diocese and I am going to miss the clergy, the religious and the laity there."
"I have oftentimes told them, because of them, during my five years I have felt happy, grateful and blessed to be their bishop," Hicks said.
Hicks, who served as a priest in El Salvador and speaks fluent Spanish, also expressed an affinity to Pope Leo.
"As someone who has dedicated a portion of my priesthood to serving in Latin America, I have a deep affinity to the Holy Father and tremendous respect and confidence in his leadership," he said of Leo, who spent two decades ministering in Peru.
Hicks also didn't shy away from addressing the hot-button topics of immigration and sexual abuse in the Church, and how he will tackle those issues in one of the most diverse cities in the world, saying he is "very aware that these complex and challenging days, especially as we face issues of life, justice, peace and healing."
"Still, I feel the hope that so many to our shores had that came through this very harbor here in New York, including my own family," Hicks said. "I am committed to working with the great variety and diversity of faith leaders and civic leaders to keep hope alive and to make real the promise of the Golden Door by acting in mutual respect and working to uphold human dignity."
He noted that the Archdiocese of New York has set aside funds to help resolve sexual abuse claims.
"As a Church, we can never rest in our efforts to prevent abuse, to protect children and to care for survivors," Hicks said.
He also recognized that he has big shoes to fill in replacing Dolan, who was appointed archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI nearly 17 years ago and is now retiring.
"I'm profoundly grateful for the many ways that he has shepherded the Archdiocese of New York and for the kindness that he’s already shown me," Hicks said. "I’ve been deeply touched by his graciousness and his generous expression of support of me."