Pope Leo replaces Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of NY Catholic Church
Source: USA Today
Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 9:09 a.m. ET
VATICAN CITY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Pope Leo replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the Catholic Church in New York, the Vatican announced on Thursday, sidelining a prominent U.S. Church figure in a major shake-up of the country's Catholic leadership.
Leo, the first U.S. pope, appointed a relatively unknown cleric from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks, to replace Dolan as leader of the nation's second-largest Catholic diocese, home to some 2.8 million Church members.
Dolan, Archbishop of New York since 2009 and a former president of the U.S. Catholic bishops' conference, offered to resign in February upon turning 75, as required by Church law. Cardinals often serve until 80, the mandatory retirement age.
"Hicks represents not just a new chapter for New York but for the American church as a whole," said David Gibson, a U.S. Church expert.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/12/18/pope-leo-replaces-cardinal-timothy-dolan-with-bishop-ronald-hicks-new-york-catholic-church/87823910007/
Dolan was elevated by the Nazi Benedict so definitely a "new chapter"....
montanacowboy
(6,663 posts)makes me want to return to the church; I like this new guy a lot!
underpants
(194,559 posts)GreenWave
(12,211 posts)underpants
(194,559 posts)cab67
(3,615 posts)However - are we sure he's a Cub and not a White Sock?
GreenWave
(12,211 posts)TomSlick
(12,865 posts)cab67
(3,615 posts)not really a sports fan, but I'm a Red Sox fan because (a) I'm from western Massachusetts and (b) my dad was a Yankees fan.
rpannier
(24,837 posts)But... speaking as a staunch supporter of the Pope (White Sox loyalty runs deep), the guy better be a White Sox supporter
But, I guess in the spirit of being ecumenical... I should be willing to tolerate a heretic Cub fan
hlthe2b
(112,609 posts)seemed to be a step too far.
Jilly_in_VA
(13,775 posts)you're talking about Fat Timmy and not the new archbishop!
hlthe2b
(112,609 posts)But, he apparently followed Pope Leo's lead on immigration--probably hoping he'd let him stay until 80 yo.
Mz Pip
(28,334 posts)A documentary about a priest child sexual abuse scandal in Wisconsin where Dolan was a Bishop. Dolan declared the diocese bankrupt so the victims couldnt collect. And guess who was in charge of reviewing abuse claims in the Vatican - the Cardinal who would later become Pope Benedict.
Its a terrific documentary.
BumRushDaShow
(165,096 posts)And then he got "the solid" from 45 this past spring - Who is Timothy Dolan? The New York archbishop is Trump's pick to be the next pope
The only thing that made him pause was 45 going overboard with the anti-immigrant thing (particularly since the fastest growing adherents are those coming from Central and South America, many of the very ones being dragged off the street and thrown into unmarked cars by masked goons).
Scrivener7
(58,104 posts)grave yard maintenance fund so it wouldn't be available for settlements for victims of priest rape.
He had a really smarmy affability that seemed to take some people in, but it was just a front for another pedo protector. And who knows what else he got up to.
Always creeped me out. Glad to see him go.
BumRushDaShow
(165,096 posts)to compensate their victims. I expect Leo had no expectation that he would carry that out in any timely fashion!
Dolan has been a very bad influence in the Catholic Church for far too long.........good riddance to bad rubbish
BattleRow
(2,085 posts)Historic NY
(39,575 posts)moniss
(8,603 posts)Pas-de-Calais
(10,242 posts)ananda
(34,298 posts)!!!
TlalocW
(15,673 posts)It was because Dolan insisted that NYCs signature hot dog is better than a Chicago dog.
He also dissed deep dish pizza in a homily.
liberalla
(10,778 posts)ancianita
(42,759 posts)He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. Additionally, he can read Latin and German, two important theological languages. Pope Francis loved him.
PJMcK
(24,626 posts)
New York Citys Cardinal is a major figure in the city in religion, of course, but also in society. Dolan has been a wart on the ass of NY.
Good for Pope Leo and good luck to Bishop Ronald Hicks.
PatrickforB
(15,329 posts)silent on that matter...maybe because 20% of the US population is Catholic and worldwide the church has 2.4 billion members.
As to Protestants, there are around 150 million here, but around 1 billion worldwide. Of these, many are evangelicals and the most growth for this group is the global south - as evidenced by young Hispanic men 'breaking' for Trump. The evangelical movement - or many of them - have pastors who seem to have sold out on the actual message of Christ in favor of material wealth and power.
Joinfortmill
(19,893 posts)Grins
(9,209 posts)
that as Archbishop of Milwaukee he once supervised a program to use the money collected from parishioners to pay accused child molesters to leave the priesthood.
Any mention of his name that does not include that is unworthy of being read.
H/T: Charles Pierce; Esquire Magazine.
cab67
(3,615 posts)littlemissmartypants
(31,380 posts)Hassler
(4,735 posts)In choosing Dolan's replacement
electric_blue68
(25,584 posts)Bread and Circuses
(1,491 posts). Declare women as eligible for the priestess holder
Accept LGBTQ as born that way.
And the progressives will flock to the community.
PS
and bring our influence and money !
electric_blue68
(25,584 posts)I applaud when the Pope does other progressive things.
I'm an ex-Catholic. While mot a Christian either,cI've attended some special Masses at The Cathedral of St John The Divine in NYC because of certain events they were also celebrating. My jaw practically dropped open (back in the late '80s) seeing Women Pastors in their processions!
Figarosmom
(9,621 posts)Waiting for him to retire or die wasn't working.
Mawspam2
(1,077 posts)Coincidence? 🤔