Incoming New York archbishop Ronald Hicks to emphasize evangelizing

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Ronald Hicks, the incoming archbishop of New York, said Thursday that he plans to emphasize evangelizing and reengagement as he takes charge of one of the biggest U.S. archdioceses. Speaking during a news conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral ahead of his installation ceremony Friday, Hicks framed his priorities around the question of how the Church can move people from being part of it to being engaged with it.

He said he wants Catholics to consider how they “be actually be disciples” and how to “make disciples,” echoing that theme when he asked, “People who have been a part of the church but maybe not so much.” Hicks added that the archdiocese should also address how “How do we pass the faith on to the next generation?” and how “How do we be a church that is thriving and relevant?” During the news conference, he tied the effort to a broader push for reengagement with the Church.

Hicks said his message for immigrants would emphasize the Church’s teachings on social justice and human dignity. He asked: “How do we see each other as brothers and sisters and use that as a foundation for everything else?”

Hicks, whose installation ceremony is scheduled to take place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday, also requested that the liturgy for the event be said in Spanish. During his homily at the installation, he highlighted his vision for the archdiocese based in gratitude and the mission of the church, and he said, “You are going to notice that I am going to reference a number of times Pope Leo the 14th,” adding that he would be obedient and respectful while collaborating with the pope’s vision.

The leadership change represents a new chapter for U.S. Catholicism, with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, already signaling a willingness to challenge the Trump administration on immigration and other issues. Hicks, who has led church-run work in Latin America and the Caribbean, has been described as a bishop whose approach aligns with Pope Leo-style priorities.

Hicks currently serves as bishop of Joliet, Illinois. Pope Leo XIV chose him in December to replace the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan, after Dolan submitted his resignation in February as required when he turned 75. The appointment came not long after Dolan finalized a plan to establish a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who had sued the archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of New York is among the largest in the nation, serving roughly 2.5 million Catholics across Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, as well as seven counties to the north. Hicks said he had not yet spoken with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani but said he looks forward to meeting him.

He said he wants to take up the relationship with city government with a focus on shared work, adding that even when there are disagreements, there are “things that we can work on together for the common good,” and saying: “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.”