Ronald Hicks will be installed on Friday as the 11th archbishop of New York in a ceremony at a revered church in Manhattan, where dignitaries and laypeople from all strata of society are expected to gather to celebrate.
Presenting the Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to reporters on Thursday, Hicks said 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 many references to Pope Leo XI and promote themes of gratitude and the church’s mission.
“I will speak only about being 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 will 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 participants in the 2 p.m. ceremony will include leaders of the Catholic Church and laypeople, and representatives from other faiths, government, business, labor, education, arts, and first responders.
“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, bringing together and engaging everyone. I am excited and humbled to be installed as the 11th archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.”
Hicks was chosen by Leo in December to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was retiring, a prominent conservative figure in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Dolan had submitted his resignation in February, as required upon turning 75.
The change in leadership represents a significant new chapter for the U.S. Catholic Church, which is forging a new era with Leo, born in Chicago, as the first American pope. Leo and the U.S. hierarchy have already shown willingness to challenge the Trump administration on immigration and other issues, and Hicks is seen as a bishop very much in Leo’s style.
“What I would like to do as archbishop is to understand that in politics, in government, there will be things we disagree with. But I also want to make sure we pay attention to those things we can work on together for the common good,” said Hicks, who is also from the Chicago area.
Source: npr.org