New Archbishop Appointed for New York City

Ronald Hicks takes over leadership of the Archdiocese of New York, a "huge corporation" with 264 parishes.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Ronald Hicks has been named the new Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, taking over leadership of the Archdiocese of New York which oversees more than 2.5 million Catholics. Hicks, previously the bishop of Joliet, Illinois, says he does not want to be seen as just a "CEO" but rather as a "shepherd" for the community. However, experts note the archdiocese operates more like a large corporation with many "branch offices" in the form of individual parishes.

Why it matters

The appointment of a new archbishop for New York City is significant, as the position has traditionally been a powerful one in the city. Hicks' background and vision for the role may signal a shift from the leadership style of his predecessor, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The archdiocese also faces ongoing challenges around the church's sexual abuse crisis and immigration issues that the new archbishop will need to navigate.

The details

Hicks was previously the bishop of Joliet, Illinois for five years. He has degrees in philosophy and divinity, as well as experience running a home for abandoned children in Latin America - a background quite different from most corporate executives. Experts note the archdiocese, with its 264 parishes, functions more like a large corporation than a traditional religious organization, requiring Hicks to delegate and ensure "quality control" across the sprawling network. However, the archbishop's salary is the same as a parish priest's, at $3,344 per month.

  • Hicks will be installed as the new archbishop of New York on February 6, 2026.
  • Hicks previously served as the bishop of Joliet, Illinois for 5 years.

The players

Ronald Hicks

The new Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, previously the bishop of Joliet, Illinois.

David Gibson

The director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, who commented on the archdiocese operating more like a large corporation.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

The previous archbishop of New York, who led the archdiocese since 2009.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who Hicks said he looks forward to getting to know despite potential disagreements.

Samuel Jimenez Correa

An orphan from El Salvador who was thrown in the trash as an infant and will be one of the readers at Hicks' installation ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“I'm called here to be a shepherd.”

— Ronald Hicks (New York Times)

“Even if you have an M.B.A., you can't run the archdiocese of New York alone. If he wants to be a shepherd, which he does, he will find people who will help him to do the business of the church.”

— David Gibson, Director, Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University (New York Times)

What’s next

Hicks will be officially installed as the new archbishop of New York during a mass celebrating his installation on February 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The appointment of Ronald Hicks as the new archbishop of New York signals a potential shift in leadership style for the archdiocese, as Hicks aims to balance his role as a "shepherd" with the realities of overseeing a large, complex organization. His background and vision for the position differ from his predecessor, raising questions about how he will navigate the archdiocese's ongoing challenges.