Historic Transition at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan is witnessing a significant change today as Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks is being installed as the 11th Archbishop of New York.
Chosen by Pope Leo XIV, the 58-year-old Hicks takes over from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who spent 17 years leading the archdiocese.
The formal Installation Mass is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) today.
The transition commenced last night with a bilingual Vespers service in both English and Spanish. During the service, Hicks pointed to the iconic Atlas statue at Rockefeller Center. In reflecting on the Titan’s continuous struggle to bear the heavens, he connected it to the responsibilities of leadership, stressing his intent to lean on faith rather than facing the challenges of the archdiocese on his own. This analogy signals a shift in his leadership style, moving away from a “CEO” perspective toward a collaborative approach marked by spiritual surrender.
“As I begin this ministry tomorrow… I do not want to be Atlas,” Hicks remarked, indicating he won’t attempt to “carry the weight of the world” in his new role.
“On one side of the street, Atlas shows us when we try to carry everything on our own. On this side, in the church, Christ invites us to place our trust in Him… with all of our hopes, all of our wounds, all of our future into the hands of Jesus,” he continued.
The Archbishop of New York holds the dual role of spiritual leader and influential public figure, with considerable sway over a vibrant congregation currently facing various challenges, such as concerns over public safety, immigration, and economic pressures—all heightened by the recent election of the Democratic-socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
“The Church… gives us an evening like this not to solve all the issues and challenges of our world,” Hicks noted during the Vespers, underscoring the complexities of the social and political environment he is entering. Interestingly, he has steered clear of political commentary thus far.
Hicks steps into leadership of a diverse archdiocese that serves more than 2 million Catholics across roughly 300 parishes. Notably, over a million members are Latinos with ties to Central and South America, a community that the Spanish-speaking Hicks is ready to connect with.
The Installation Mass is anticipated to attract over 2,000 guests at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, including seven cardinals and around 180 bishops from across the nation.
Hicks is succeeding Cardinal Dolan, who has been a prominent figure in the archdiocese since 2009, known for his vigorous defense of traditional Catholic views on issues like abortion and marriage, as well as his involvement in civic matters—having delivered prayers at both of President Donald Trump’s inaugurations.
With a strong pastoral background, Hicks served as an auxiliary bishop in Chicago before becoming the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet prior to his appointment in New York.
