New York Archdiocese Installs Archbishop Ronald Hicks as Its New Leader
A new chapter has been written for the Roman Catholic Church in New York, as Archbishop Ronald Hicks was formally installed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan who stepped down upon reaching 75 years old. The appointment of Hicks, a 58-year-old bishop from Illinois, marked a significant shift for the archdiocese, with Hicks becoming the first fluent Spanish speaker to lead the church.
In his remarks on Thursday, Hicks emphasized his commitment to revitalizing the faith and reconnecting with Catholics who have drifted away. "How do we pass our faith on to the next generation? How do we be a Church that is relevant, living, and beautiful, sharing our faith together?" he asked, outlining his vision for the church's future.
Hicks' appointment was not without controversy, however. His ability to connect with New York City's diverse Catholic population, which speaks multiple languages, has been hailed as a significant asset in an increasingly polarized society. "I think Archbishop Hicks will try to really be a centrist figure, a unifier," noted David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University. "The mantra, the literal motto of Pope Leo is 'unity.' But we're in such a polarized time, and that's going to be difficult to do."
Cardinal Dolan praised Hicks as "immensely qualified" for his new role, pledging his support for the archbishop-designate. Hicks' own background, which includes serving as bishop of Joliet, Illinois, and spending five years as a missionary in El Salvador, suggests that he is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of New York's Catholic landscape.
On Friday, Hicks will formally assume his new role at St. Patrick's Cathedral, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Roman Catholic Church in New York.
A new chapter has been written for the Roman Catholic Church in New York, as Archbishop Ronald Hicks was formally installed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan who stepped down upon reaching 75 years old. The appointment of Hicks, a 58-year-old bishop from Illinois, marked a significant shift for the archdiocese, with Hicks becoming the first fluent Spanish speaker to lead the church.
In his remarks on Thursday, Hicks emphasized his commitment to revitalizing the faith and reconnecting with Catholics who have drifted away. "How do we pass our faith on to the next generation? How do we be a Church that is relevant, living, and beautiful, sharing our faith together?" he asked, outlining his vision for the church's future.
Hicks' appointment was not without controversy, however. His ability to connect with New York City's diverse Catholic population, which speaks multiple languages, has been hailed as a significant asset in an increasingly polarized society. "I think Archbishop Hicks will try to really be a centrist figure, a unifier," noted David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University. "The mantra, the literal motto of Pope Leo is 'unity.' But we're in such a polarized time, and that's going to be difficult to do."
Cardinal Dolan praised Hicks as "immensely qualified" for his new role, pledging his support for the archbishop-designate. Hicks' own background, which includes serving as bishop of Joliet, Illinois, and spending five years as a missionary in El Salvador, suggests that he is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of New York's Catholic landscape.
On Friday, Hicks will formally assume his new role at St. Patrick's Cathedral, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Roman Catholic Church in New York.
... sounds like they're trying to appeal to everyone with this fluent Spanish thing, lol who does that? anyway, hope he can bring some much needed unity to the church, seems like it's been a bit of a mess lately 
also, 58 is pretty old to be taking on such a big role, wish him all the best tho 
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his vision to revitalize the faith and pass it on to the next gen is really inspiring. cant wait to see what he accomplishes in his new role 
i think it's dope that he's fluent in spanish tho 
anyway, gonna be interesting to see how he brings about change 
gotta respect him for being a unifier in these polarized times 
i mean, revitalizing faith and connecting with people who've drifted away is one thing, but how's he gonna do it without alienating the more conservative Catholics? it's a tough balancing act, you know? 
gotta be careful not to divide the flock too much. on the other hand, his Spanish skills are a major plus 
gotta love that they're finally getting someone who speaks fluent Spanish leading the church. maybe this guy can bring some fresh perspectives and help the church stay relevant in the 21st century 
and connect with ppl from different backgrounds. i mean, yeah it's cool that he speaks fluent spanish but what's wrong with trying to unite ppl instead of tearing them apart? 
his vision for the church sounds pretty decent too, passing faith on to the next gen and being a living example is def something we can learn from 
let's not write him off just yet, give the dude a chance 
... but let's be real, the whole "unity" thing feels like a bit of a challenge in this polarized society 
idk bout dat tho lol
i've been to st patricks cathedral a few times and it's always so beautiful @ night w/ all the candles lit 
btw, has anyone else heard of cardinal dolan? he seems like a pretty cool guy 
I think this is a big deal! Having someone fluent in Spanish speak lead the church here makes total sense. NYC is already super diverse and it's about time we have someone who can connect with everyone. 
...it's good to have a leader who's all about unity and bringing people together 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how things play out 
especially with nyc being one of the most diverse cities in the world. the fact that he's all about being a centrist figure and unifying people is music to my ears 
gotta see how this plays out! and i love how he's already emphasizing the importance of passing faith on to the next gen 
gotta get on board with that vibe!
think it's great that they got someone who speaks multiple languages to lead the church, gonna help 'em connect with people from all over the city 
. anyway, wish him luck on his new role! 
[here](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/us/archbishop-ronald-hicks-new-leader.html) for more deets
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