CHICAGO—In a significant transition within the Catholic Church, Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks has stepped into his new role as the leader of the New York Archdiocese, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The ceremonial handover took place on Friday at the prestigious Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

ABC7’s Tanja Babich was on the ground in New York to cover the installation Mass, a key event that marked the beginning of Hicks’ tenure. The momentous occasion was scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time, with Cardinal Dolan officially transferring the responsibilities to Hicks.

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Security was a primary concern during the event, with police maintaining a vigilant presence. They ensured that only individuals with tickets were permitted entry into the cathedral. To manage the large crowds and ensure safety, streets around the bustling Midtown Manhattan area were blocked off, creating additional challenges for the usual traffic flow.

The atmosphere inside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on the eve of the installation was one of celebration and anticipation. During a Vespers Mass on Thursday night, both Dolan and Hicks were present, with Hicks taking the lead to conduct the service in English and Spanish. This bilingual approach underscores his commitment to embracing the diverse community within the archdiocese.

As he assumes his new role, Bishop Hicks has expressed a strong desire to connect with all of New York’s 2.5 million Catholics. He places particular emphasis on reaching out to the Latino community, which comprises about 1 million individuals from various South and Central American countries. This focus highlights Hicks’ dedication to fostering inclusivity and unity among the archdiocese’s diverse population.

Hicks said it is important to him that he connect with all of New York’s 2.5 million Catholics. Among them, 1 million are Latinos from many different countries in South and Central America.

Hicks has a great sense of humor, and it was on display during that Vespers Mass. He got a laugh out of the congregation, saying that he has been inundated with questions about whether he is scared, excited, overwhelmed, but nobody waited for an answer. He said, humbly, that, yes, he is all of the above.

He is funny, and he has great warmth. At one point, he paused, stopping for the congregants, and not the cameras. Babich said it felt very Chicago and very midwestern as our city’s influence in the Catholic Church grows in America and overseas at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV’s first major appointment in the United States is a fellow South Sider. When Babich asked Cardinal Blase Cupich about whether this is a coincidence or the beginning of a trend, he said, simply, that there a a pool of talent that we have in the Chicago Archdiocese and in the city that is noteworthy and justifiably recognized.

Hicks has carried a lot of responsibility in his roles with the Chicago and Joliet dioceses. He said the weight of his new role and responsibilities is not one that he will carry alone, and he pointed to the Atlas statue across the street for his reason why.

“On one side of the street, Atlas shows us when we try to carry everything on our own. On this side, in the church, Christ invites us to place our trust in him… with all of our hopes, all of our wounds, all of our future Into the hands of Jesus,” Hicks said.

On Friday, Hicks knocked on the door of St. Pat’s three times, and Dolan welcomed him in. The carpet around the archbishop’s throne changed from red – signifying Dolan’s rank as Cardinal – to green, marking Hicks’ status as archbishop.

Hicks said in the days leading up to Friday’s installation ceremony that with every rise through the ranks, he tried to look for opportunities to say “yes,” when he is called upon, to being of service and to God.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.