Big changes are brewing in the Catholic Church’s American stronghold.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in the Church’s 2,000-year history, is poised to accept the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan as Archbishop of New York and may appoint an Illinois bishop to take the helm of this influential archdiocese, the New York Post reported.
Cardinal Dolan, who has led the Archdiocese of New York since 2009, submitted his resignation in February 2025 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Enter Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost from Chicago’s South Side, who assumed the papacy in May 2025 after the passing of Pope Francis.
A Villanova graduate, this American pope brings a hometown flavor to his decisions, which might explain the buzz around his potential pick for New York.
Sources indicate Pope Leo will accept Dolan’s resignation this week, paving the way for a new chapter in one of the nation’s most prominent dioceses.
The leading candidate to replace Dolan is Bishop Ron Hicks, 58, who currently oversees the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, not far from the pope’s own roots.
Hicks, who grew up in South Holland, Illinois, was appointed as Joliet’s sixth bishop in July 2020 by Pope Francis and was installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus shortly after.
His connection to Pope Leo seems more than geographical, with Hicks himself noting the pontiff’s down-to-earth vibe: “He doesn’t seem like some figure or theory out there. But he’s a normal guy from a normal neighborhood we grew up in,” Hicks told WGN-TV News in Chicago.
While Hicks’ relatable take on the pope is heartwarming, let’s not pretend proximity to power doesn’t play a role in these appointments—call it heavenly networking with a Chicago twist.
Meanwhile, former Westchester County executive Rob Astorino is fanning the flames of speculation, posting on X: “Strong rumors that @Pontifex has accepted the resignation of @CardinalDolan and will appoint Bishop Ron Hicks of Joliet, Illinois.”
Rumors or not, Astorino’s confidence suggests the Vatican’s smoke signals are already rising—though in today’s world of instant leaks, one wonders if faith in discretion is a lost virtue.
Beyond the leadership shuffle, the Archdiocese of New York is grappling with a staggering $300 million fundraising goal to settle 1,300 claims of child sex abuse by clergy and lay staff.
To foot the bill, the archdiocese is slashing budgets by 10%, laying off staff, selling real estate like the land under the Lotte New York Palace hotel for $490 million, and offloading the old headquarters at 1011 First Ave. for another $100 million—moves that show fiscal grit but underscore a painful legacy.
Some proceeds will repay loans from prior settlements, a reminder that the Church’s past sins continue to exact a heavy toll, even as it seeks redemption—though skeptics might argue selling prime Manhattan dirt is less contrition and more survival.
