Bishop Ronald Hicks replaces Dolan as Archbishop of New York with installation at St Patrick's

Archbishop Ronald Hicks was formally installed connected Friday astatine New York City's iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral, officially taking the helm aft the status of Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

"I hap to similar New York. I hap to emotion this town. So, commencement spreadin’ the news, I’m starting today," Hicks said, officially kicking disconnected his tenure arsenic archbishop, according to the Archdiocese of New York. "Here are a fewer things you should cognize astir me: I emotion Jesus. I emotion the Church. And I emotion people."

Upon his installation, Hicks, who has served arsenic the Bishop of Joliet, Ill, since September 2020, became the fourteenth bishop and the eleventh archbishop to pb the Archdiocese of New York.

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New York Archbishop-designate Ronald A. Hicks, who is taking implicit from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has held the station since 2009, holds up a missive from Pope Leo XIV declaring his caller presumption during the Installation Mass astatine St. Patrick's Cathedral successful Manhattan successful New York City, Feb. 6, 2026.  (Angelina Katsanis/Pool/Reuters)

The installation ceremonial began, arsenic it traditionally does, with the caller archbishop knocking connected the cathedral doors earlier gaining introduction to the church. Hicks knocked connected the doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral with a metallic hammer earlier helium was greeted by Dolan, according to WNYW. There were past 3 processions astatine the commencement of the installation, which included honored guests, congregation enactment and respective bishops, WNYW reported.

Hicks laid retired his imaginativeness for the Archdiocese of New York, saying that the Church should absorption connected outreach and charity, alternatively than serving existent members.

"This is simply a telephone to beryllium a missionary Church, not a state club. A nine exists to service its members. The Church, connected the different hand, exists to spell retired and service each people, connected occurrence with faith, hope, and foundation successful the sanction of Jesus Christ. This is not a criticism, but an invitation to renew who we are and rediscover wherefore the Church exists," Hicks said, according to the Archdiocese of New York.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks knocks connected the cardinal doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral to statesman the Ceremony of Reception for his Mass of Installation, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, successful New York. (Stefan Jeremiah/Pool via Reuters)

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The displacement successful enactment from Dolan to Hicks signals the U.S. Church could beryllium moving into a caller epoch with the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV arsenic the archetypal American pope, The Associated Press noted. The outlet besides suggested that Hicks, who is seen arsenic a Leo-style bishop, could articulation Church leaders who are already pushing backmost against the Trump medication connected issues, specified arsenic immigration.

Dolan, who has led the archdiocese since 2009, announced his status successful December and submitted it successful February erstwhile helium turned 75, arsenic the Church requires. Hicks was named his successor successful December and was installed connected Dolan's 75th birthday, thing helium mentioned successful his homily.

New York Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, who is taking implicit from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has held the station since 2009, leaves pursuing his installation Mass astatine St. Patrick's Cathedral connected Feb. 6, 2026, successful New York City.  (Angelina Katsanis - Pool/Getty Images)

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"To Cardinal Dolan, convey you for your magnanimous enactment present for seventeen years. In particular, convey you for the gracious enactment you person shown maine some publically and privately. And by the way, we cognize that contiguous is your birthday. Happy Birthday to you, and 'ad multos annos,'" Hicks said. "Ad multos annos," means "to galore much years" successful Latin.

Hicks was ordained arsenic a clergyman connected May 21, 1994, successful the Archdiocese of Chicago. From 2005 to 2009, helium led Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a foundation that cares for orphans successful Latin America. Hicks' enactment with the charity, combined with his fluency successful Spanish, helped deepen his ties to migrant communities. Additionally, the AP noted that Hicks had requested that the liturgy astatine his installation besides beryllium said successful Spanish.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.