The Church must be a visible sign of God’s peace, healing, and love in a wounded world, according to Archbishop Ronald Hicks, newly appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of New York.
Pope Leo XIV formally accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and appointed Archbishop Hicks to lead one of the largest dioceses in the United States on Dec. 18, transferring him from the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, according to Vatican News.
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Speaking in an interview following his appointment, Archbishop Hicks emphasized humility, obedience, and pastoral closeness as central to his ministry. “I’m humbled, I’m excited, I’m obedient,” he said, adding, “All I want to do is God’s will” as he begins his service in New York, according to Vatican News.
Drawing on a phrase frequently used by Pope Francis, Archbishop Hicks expressed his desire to be a pastor deeply present to the faithful. He said his hope is “to have the smell of the sheep” and to live alongside the people he serves, noting simply, “I like people. I look forward to meeting them and getting to know them,” according to Vatican News.
Archbishop Hicks brings decades of experience in Church leadership, having served as auxiliary bishop and vicar general in the Archdiocese of Chicago before leading the Diocese of Joliet since 2020. Reflecting on his time working alongside Cardinal Blase Cupich, he said he learned the importance of governance rooted in mission. “To keep our eye focused on God, on what is God’s will and what is the mission of the Church,” he explained, while resisting distractions that can pull the Church away from its core purpose, according to Vatican News.
Addressing the Archdiocese of New York’s recently announced $300 million fund to compensate survivors of clerical sexual abuse, Archbishop Hicks acknowledged the gravity and lasting impact of abuse within the Church. “This is a sin in the Church, and it’s such a great magnitude that we can’t just pretend, ‘Well, it’s behind us and now we simply move on,’” he said, according to Vatican News.
He stressed that safeguarding children and supporting survivors must remain a permanent priority, stating that the Church must always make decisions that “help protect children and prevent abuse,” while also remaining faithful to its broader mission, according to Vatican News.
Archbishop Hicks also reflected on his personal connection to Pope Leo XIV, noting that the two grew up just blocks apart in the Chicago area. Looking ahead, he expressed hope for a Church in the United States marked by unity rather than division. He said he envisions a Church that brings “God’s light to the world, His peace, His healing, His love,” while seeking cooperation and mutual respect among its leaders and faithful, according to Vatican News.
Reaffirming his commitment to the Holy Father, Archbishop Hicks said he looks forward to working closely with Pope Leo XIV, adding that it has been his “joy and honor” to serve in Chicago and Joliet and that he now steps forward into his new role “with the help of God,” according to Vatican News.
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