Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks named by Pope Leo to lead New York Archdiocese
JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Pope Leo has named Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet to lead the New York Archdiocese.
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Parishioners ABC7 spoke with Thursday said they are happy for Bishop Hicks, although sad to lose such a great leader of their cathedral, they say.
"It's exciting," Marilyn Skelly said. "It's exciting. I'm happy for Bishop and wishing the best of luck."
Hicks said he plans to carry with him the faith, generosity and spirit of this diocese as he begins this new chapter.
"Is there sadness in my heart? Sure because I love the Archdiocese of New York. That sadness is mitigated by the gift that this new archbishop already is," Cardinal Timothy Dolan said.
Hicks is succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who's retiring at the age of 75.
The two met last week and led a news conference Thursday morning to share the wonderful news.
Bishop Hicks has been a priest for over 30 years and led the St. Raymond Cathedral for the past five years.
"It's a wonderful diocese and I'm going to miss the clergy, the religious and the laity there," Bishop Hicks said.
Like Pope Leo, he too was born in Chicago's south suburbs in South Holland.
"Dolton is where our holy father Pope Leo XIV grew up and is from. And our houses are literally 14 blocks away from each other," Bishop Hicks said.
Hicks attended Niles College Seminary and studied Philosophy at Loyola University.
He's held positions all over the Chicagoland area and surrounding suburbs.
Now, chosen by Pope Leo to lead one of the largest archdioceses in the country.
"The way he talks to everyone, he's very relatable," parishioner Rose Juarez said. "He's fluent in Spanish, so it's nice to see when he can do the dual mass that he could do both languages effortlessly and I just like what he's done with the diocese since the short time that he's been here."
Parishioners in Joliet, although proud of their Bishop, said this move is bittersweet.
"Once in a while, you get someone that's relatable and I felt the connection with him so it's sad that we're going to lose him, but I'm grateful that he's going up to bigger or better things now," Juarez said.
"We got to know him and he's a real good guy, congenial, so we're going to miss him in anticipation of what we might get," Larry Skelly said.
Hicks said he'll never forget where he came from.
"I am going to remain a loyal Cubs fan however I am going to start rooting for the New York sports teams and I already love your pizza. I love it a lot," Bishop Hicks said.
Bishop Hicks will continue serving the Diocese of Joliet until his installation in New York.
Cardinal Blase Cupich issued a statement saying, "Archbishop Hicks is a holy man with a heart for Jesus and the People of God. He will embrace the diversity of his new archdiocese and be an adept administrator."
The bulletin from the Vatican said, "The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New York (USA), presented by His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan.
"The Holy Father has appointed His Excellency Ronald A. Hicks as Metropolitan Archbishop of New York (USA), transferring him from the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois (USA).
Curriculum Vitae
"His Excellency 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 and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago. He was a volunteer with the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Foundation. He completed 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 positions: Parish Vicar of Our Lady of Mercy in Chicago (1994-1996) and Saint Elizabeth Seton in Orland Hills (1996-1999); Dean of Formation at Saint Joseph College Seminary (1999-2005); Regional Director of the charitable organisation Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Mexico and El Salvador (2005-2009); Faculty Member and then Dean of Formation at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein (2010-2014); Vicar General (2015-2020).
"Appointed Titular Bishop of Munaziana and Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago on 3 July 2018, he received episcopal consecration on 17 September of the same year.
"On 17 July 2020, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois."
