Vatican Replaces Trumps Favorite Cardinal With Pro-Immigrant Bishop

Hicks Takes Over New York Archdiocese

Pope Leo XIV just made his boldest move yet against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

On December 18, the first American pope named Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York, replacing Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who prayed at both of Trump’s inaugurations and called the president a “great friend.”

Hicks endorsed the bishops’ condemnation of mass deportations just weeks ago. The two men could not be more different, and the timing says everything.

Hicks Grew Up 14 Blocks From Pope

Ronald Hicks was born in Harvey, Illinois, in 1967 and raised in South Holland, a working-class suburb south of Chicago.

Pope Leo XIV grew up in Dolton, the next town over. The two men played in the same parks, swam in the same pools, and ate at the same pizza places.

Hicks is 58 years old. At his press conference, he joked that he would remain a Cubs fan despite the pope rooting for the White Sox.

Five Years With Orphans in El Salvador

In 2005, Hicks moved to El Salvador to run orphanages across Latin America.

For five years, he oversaw care for more than 3,400 abandoned children in nine countries through a Catholic organization called Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos.

The experience shaped him.

He returned to Chicago fluent in Spanish with what he calls “an enormous heart for Latino culture. ” Pope Leo spent 20 years doing similar work in Peru.

Dolan Prayed at Both Inaugurations

Cardinal Timothy Dolan delivered the opening prayer at Trump’s 2017 inauguration and again in January 2025.

He appeared regularly on Fox News and once called Trump “a great gentleman” and “a great friend of mine.”

Trump returned the praise, saying Dolan had been “the best” for Catholics. The cardinal also served on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission this year.

Their relationship was warm and very public.

Bishops Condemn Mass Deportations

In November 2025, 216 Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore and voted nearly unanimously to condemn Trump’s deportation policies.

It was the first unified statement from the bishops’ conference in 12 years.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago added language opposing “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”

The statement cited fear in immigrant communities and concern over detention center conditions. It passed with a standing ovation.

Pope Leo Calls Policies Inhuman

Pope Leo XIV has grown increasingly vocal since his election in May.

In September, he told journalists that supporting “the inhuman treatment of immigrants” may be incompatible with pro-life values.

In November, he called for “deep reflection” on American immigration policy and demanded that detainees have access to clergy.

He also told the bishops he wished they had spoken out sooner and more forcefully.

Hicks Warns on Church Raids

In January 2025, after Trump signed executive orders on immigration, Hicks sent a letter to clergy in his Joliet diocese.

He warned that churches and ministry sites “are no longer treated as sanctuaries” from questioning, arrest, or deportation.

He urged priests to live by gospel values while recognizing law enforcement’s role. The letter was practical and direct, a preview of how he might lead New York.

Dolan Could Have Stayed Longer

Catholic bishops must submit their resignation when they turn 75.

Dolan did so in February. But popes often let cardinals continue serving until the mandatory retirement age of 80.

Leo chose not to wait. He accepted Dolan’s resignation and announced Hicks as the replacement within months.

Vatican watchers saw the move as intentional, a clear signal that the pope wanted a different kind of leader in New York.

New York Faces Abuse Settlement

Hicks inherits a crisis. Just days before his appointment, Dolan announced that the New York archdiocese would create a $300 million fund to settle claims from about 1,300 survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

The archdiocese is selling Manhattan properties and restructuring parishes to raise the money. Hicks promised accountability and transparency.

He has experience with abuse fallout from his time in Joliet, where past bishops covered up crimes.

Two Missionaries From Chicago

Both Hicks and Leo came from modest Chicago-area backgrounds and both spent years serving the poor in Latin America. Leo worked in Peru for two decades, became a citizen there, and speaks fluent Spanish.

Hicks ran orphanages in El Salvador and learned to love the people he served. One commentator called Hicks “a Leo-style bishop.”

The pope appears to be building a leadership team that reflects his own values and experience.

Hicks Takes Over in February

Hicks will be installed as Archbishop of New York on February 6, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

He will lead 2.5 million Catholics across Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and seven counties north of the city. Archbishops of New York are typically made cardinals.

At 58, Hicks has time to put his mark on the role. Dolan called him “an early Christmas gift.” The White House has not commented on whether it agrees.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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