Pope Leo XIV is expected to name Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, to succeed retiring Timothy Cardinal Dolan as archbishop of New York, sources briefed on the transition say.

About Bishop Hicks 

Pope Leo is from Illinois, and he has tapped a fellow Illinois native to lead the archdiocese of New York. 

Hicks, 58, and Pope Leo have much in common. They were both born and raised in suburban Chicago, with Hicks being born in Harvey and raised in South Holland. Both men also speak fluent Spanish after spending years ministering to the poor in South America and Central America. 

Hicks graduated from seminary in 1985 and went on to study philosophy at Loyola University Chicago before getting his master's degree in divinity at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. He was ordained in 1994. 

In 2005, Hicks moved from Chicago to El Salvador, where he served for five years as regional director of an organization dedicated to caring for thousands of orphaned and abandoned children. 

In 2020, Hicks was named as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. 

Cardinal Dolan submitted his resignation earlier this year 

Dolan turned 75 in February, and was required to submit his resignation to the Vatican. At the time, Dolan estimated he would remain in his post for about six to eight months while the Holy See appoints his successor.

Popes sometimes allow bishops to remain in their post until the mandatory retirement age of 80. By replacing Dolan before his 76th birthday, Pope Leo is exercising his prerogative to shape the leadership of a key archdiocese with his preferred candidate.

Dolan has served as archbishop of New York since 2009, leading approximately 2.8 million Catholics. For the last 16 years, Cardinal Dolan has been a prominent, charismatic figure and a leading voice for Catholicism in the United States. He led the Archdiocese through the COVID pandemic and numerous difficult decisions, including selling assets to fund a settlement for victims of priest sex abuse, closure of many Catholic schools, and realignment of parishes which resulted in the closure of some churches.

Cardinal Dolan lauded by leader of Catholic League

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said Dolan has been a compassionate defender of church teaching and a warmhearted leader.

"To fill the shoes of Cardinal Dolan, good luck to the new archbishop of New York," Donohue said. "Cardinal Dolan is certainly loved by New Yorkers, and I don't just mean Catholics. I mean non-Catholics as well. He's one of the most courageous and honest priests I've ever met in my life."

Dolan has said, once his resignation is accepted, he'll continue to serve the church as part of his vow of obedience.

"I find obedience liberating. People say, 'What are you going to do?' I don't really know. It ain't my decision. You just say, 'Jesus, I trust in thee. And, Holy Father, I trust in you,'" Dolan said at the time.