Pope Leo expected to accept archbishop’s resignation, Illinois bishop eyed as successor

Pope Leo XIV is expected to formally accept the resignation of Timothy Cardinal Dolan as archbishop of New York as early as this week, with a bishop from the pope’s home state of Illinois emerging as a leading candidate to succeed him, according to a report by the New York Post.

Cardinal Dolan, who has led the Archdiocese of New York since 2009, submitted his resignation in February after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. While such resignations are customary, acceptance is at the discretion of the pope and can take months.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the New York Post reported that Pope Leo XIV is considering Bishop Ronald “Ron” Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, to take over one of the most prominent archdioceses in the Catholic Church.

Church sources interviewed by the New York Post confirmed that preparations for a transition are underway, though officials from both the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Joliet declined to comment on the report.

Hicks, 58, currently serves as bishop of Joliet, a diocese west of Chicago. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, is a native of Chicago’s South Side and became the first American pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history following the death of Pope Francis earlier this year.

In an earlier interview with WGN-TV in Chicago after Pope Leo XIV’s election, Hicks described the pontiff as approachable and relatable.

Hicks was appointed bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in July 2020 and formally installed two months later. He grew up in South Holland, Illinois, and previously served in various pastoral and administrative roles within the Church.

Any leadership change in New York would come at a critical time for the archdiocese, which is facing significant financial pressure. According to the New York Post, the archdiocese is seeking to raise approximately $300 million to settle around 1,300 claims of sexual abuse involving clergy and lay staff.

To meet that target, church officials have taken cost-cutting measures, including staff layoffs, budget reductions, and the sale of major real estate assets. Among the largest transactions is the reported $490 million sale of the land beneath the Lotte New York Palace hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Additional funds are expected from the planned sale of the former archdiocesan headquarters on First Avenue.

Cardinal Dolan has previously acknowledged the gravity of the abuse crisis.

“As we have repeatedly acknowledged, the sexual abuse of minors long ago has brought shame upon our church,” Dolan said earlier this week, according to the New York Post. “I once again ask forgiveness for the failing of those who betrayed the trust placed in them.”

As of publication, the Vatican has not issued an official announcement regarding the acceptance of Dolan’s resignation or the appointment of his successor.