Pope Leo XIV has appointed Ronald Hicks, the current bishop of Joliet, Illinois, as the new archbishop of New York, one of the largest archdioceses in the United States. This appointment signals the Catholic Church's ongoing challenge to the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Hicks, who is 58 years old, will succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served in this role for 16 years and is recognized as a conservative figure within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy.

Cardinal Dolan recently finalized a plan to establish a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who have pursued legal action against the archdiocese. In contrast, Hicks has publicly endorsed a message from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that condemns the administration's immigration raids, expressing concern over the climate of fear and anxiety surrounding immigration enforcement.

Pope Leo XIV has previously questioned whether the administration's immigration policies align with the Catholic Church's pro-life teachings, labeling them as inhumane. Hicks, who has a background in social service, having spent five years in El Salvador managing a church-run orphanage, has emphasized solidarity with immigrants and articulated the Church's opposition to the vilification of these communities.

Hicks was born in Harvey, Illinois, and has degrees in philosophy, divinity, and ministry. He was ordained in 1994 and has served in various capacities within the Church, including as the regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, an organization dedicated to caring for orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America. He will now oversee approximately 2.5 million Catholics in New York City, including Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Observers note that Hicks is seen as a good listener and a bridge builder, likely to continue the Church's advocacy on social issues under Pope Leo's leadership.