New archbishop of New York calls for a church that shows respect and builds unity

Ronald Hicks was installed as the 11th archbishop of New York and urged Catholics to be a missionary church that cares for the vulnerable and respects all people.

Ronald Hicks was installed on Friday as the 11th archbishop of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. A few thousand people attended the Mass and hundreds more gathered outside. Hicks succeeded Cardinal Timothy Dolan and read the official letter from Pope Leo XIV declaring his appointment. He spoke of a missionary church that cares for the poor, protects children, promotes healing and shows respect for all. Key details: - The installation occurred at St. Patrick's Cathedral with a few thousand people inside and hundreds outside. - Pope Leo XIV chose Hicks in December, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan welcomed him before he took the cathedra. - Hicks will lead an archdiocese serving roughly 2.5 million Catholics across Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and seven nearby counties. - In his remarks, Hicks called for a church that evangelizes, cares for creation, defends life from conception to natural death, protects children and promotes healing for survivors. - Hicks previously served as bishop of Joliet, worked in an El Salvador orphanage program and held roles in the Chicago archdiocese. - The appointment came shortly after Dolan finalized a plan to establish a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse. Summary: Hicks' installation marks a leadership transition in one of the nation's largest archdioceses and echoes priorities associated with Pope Leo XIV. He emphasized unity, respect for all people and care for the vulnerable. How these priorities will be implemented in detail is undetermined at this time.