– In a restructuring of the leadership of the American Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, as the next archbishop of New York following the formal resignation of Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

Cardinal Dolan turned 75 in February of this year and submitted his retirement letter to the Vatican at that time as required by the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Dolan called the appointment of his successor “an early Christmas gift.”

Now, Archbishop-designate Hicks will lead the 2.8 million Catholics who make up the Archdiocese of New York. Hicks will be the 14th bishop and 11th archbishop of the See of New York. Dolan called him “immensely qualified.”

“I accept this appointment, and I ask for your prayers, I ask for your support,” Hicks said during a news conference Thursday morning.