Ronald Hicks will be installed on Friday as the 11th Archbishop of New York in a ceremony at a revered Manhattan church, where dignitaries and faithful from all walks of life are expected to attend to celebrate the event.
At a press conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday, Hicks previewed that he will speak about his vision for one of the largest archdioceses in the country, which serves about 2.5 million Catholics in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, as well as seven counties to the north. He also plans to include numerous references to Pope Francis and promote themes such as gratitude and the Church’s mission.
“I’ll speak about a Church made up of missionary disciples who want to go out and make disciples, and also pass on our faith to the next generations,” he said. “I’ll speak about a Church that builds bridges, goes to the peripheries, engages with the world, and lives its mission – a missionary Church.”
Hicks, 58, who was recently bishop of Joliet, Illinois, said that among those present at the ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m., will be Catholic Church leaders and laity, as well as representatives from other religions, government, business, labor, education, the arts, and emergency services.
“In other words, who will be there? Everyone. Everyone,” he said. “That’s good because New York is a place where the whole world lives and calls home, and the Catholic Church is universal, welcoming and engaging everyone. I’m excited and honored to be installed as the 11th archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.”
Hicks was chosen by Pope Francis in December to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who retired, a prominent conservative figure in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Dolan had submitted his resignation in February, as required upon turning 75.
The leadership change represents a new and significant chapter for the Catholic Church in the U.S., which is building a new era with Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas. Francis and the U.S. hierarchy have already shown willingness to challenge the Trump administration on immigration issues and others, and Hicks is seen as a bishop aligned with Pope Francis’s style. “What I would like to do as archbishop is to understand that, in politics and government, there will be things we disagree on. But I also want to ensure that we pay attention to the things we can work on together for the common good,” said Hicks, who is also from the Chicago area.
Source: npr.org