December 18, 2025

Advent

Jubilee Year

 

Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,

 

As the Angel said to the shepherds, I bring you tidings of great joy! Today, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed the Most Reverend Ronald Hicks, Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, as the new Archbishop of New York.  

 

A native of the Archdiocese of Chicago, where he was ordained a priest and a bishop, Archbishop-designate Hicks has served as Bishop of Joliet since 2020. He will be installed as your new archbishop on February 6, 2026, in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Until that time, I will serve as the Apostolic Administrator of the archdiocese.  

 

I am grateful to Pope Leo for appointing such a splendid priest and bishop to serve you, and have pledged to the archbishop-designate my fidelity and full cooperation, as he will now be my archbishop as well.  

 

Archbishop-designate Hicks will join me in celebrating an Advent/Christmas Mass for archdiocesan employees at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. That Mass will be livestreamed here.

 

Please know that I love you, and that it has been a joy to serve as Archbishop of New York these past nearly 17 years. I look forward to being with you often in the years to come as I will remain living here in this archdiocese.  

 

With prayerful best wishes for a joyous Christmas for you and your loved ones, I am,

Faithfully in Christ,