Pope Leo Expected to Appoint Pro-Life Bishop Ron Hicks to Lead New York Archdiocese

Pope Leo XIV is expected to appoint pro-life Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as the new archbishop of New York, replacing retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Cardinal Dolan has been an eloquent and outspoken defender of the pro-life position so pro-life Catholics hope his replacement will have the same pro-life perspective. The good news is that appears to be the case.

The appointment could come as early as this week, the source said, amid ongoing challenges for the nation’s largest archdiocese.

“There are rumblings that this week Pope Leo will accept Cardinal Dolan’s resignation and appoint Bishop Ron Hicks to replace him,” the source told Fox News.

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Hicks, 58, has demonstrated strong pro-life dedication, recently supporting a legal brief urging a federal appeals court to protect healthcare professionals from an Illinois mandate requiring them to discuss abortion benefits or refer patients to abortion businesses.

“The Church has always taught that human dignity extends to all people, from the smallest unborn children to the frailest elderly,” Hicks said in a statement. “Illinois should not force Catholics to violate that belief. We trust the court to uphold our freedom to live and serve according to our faith.”

The bishop’s opposition to abortion and efforts to safeguard conscience rights align with longstanding Catholic teachings against procedures that take human life.

Hicks, born in Harvey, Illinois, and raised in nearby South Holland, was appointed bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in 2020. His Midwestern roots mirror those of Pope Leo, who grew up in the Chicago area.

Hicks previously praised the pontiff as “relatable,” telling WGN-TV after Leo’s 2024 election: “He’s a normal guy from a normal neighborhood we grew up in.”

Dolan, 75, submitted his mandatory retirement request in February and has led the archdiocese since 2009.