Bishop Ronald Hicks, recently appointed leader of the New York Archdiocese, gave his first televised interview in Chicago from the Blanchette Catholic Center in Crest Hill, speaking with ABC7.

The Vatican made this significant announcement last Thursday.

This role is considered one of the most influential within the Catholic Church.

New York City itself is home to approximately 2.8 million Catholics.

During the interview, Bishop Hicks discussed the moment he received the call informing him of his new role as Archbishop of New York.

“The call comes from the Apostolic Nuncio, who is like the ambassador for the pope, and when I saw it was his number I thought, ‘I might be asked to do something,’ and before I picked up the phone, I simply said to myself, ‘Whatever he asks, the answer is yes. I say yes. No matter what and it is going to be a surprise I know but no matter what, I’ll say yes.’ And so when he said, ‘Congratulations, you are going to be the archbishop New York’, I said ‘Yes, tell the Holy Father thank you, and I am saying yes with a very humble an open heart,’” Bishop Hicks said.
Bishop Hicks also spoke about growing up about 14 blocks away from where Pope Leo XIV grew up.

“It was a great place to grow up and I am grateful for everything we experienced there We had probably very similar experiences of Catholicism, of neighborhood, of family and friends I am proud that our histories share that in common,” he said.
Hicks also said he shares the same favorite pizza as the pope, Aurelio’s.

“The original ovens too,” he said. “You have to ask for the pizza from the original ovens. It’s a little different when it comes out.”

The bishop has visited New York about 10 times before being named to become archbishop.

“I have always loved it,” he said. “I have loved their energy and their culture and their plays and their neighborhoods. I have always loved New York and I have always wanted to return. Now, I am going to return to stay. But the thing I think I have always loved is that there are so many people from so many parts of the world that call it home and there is something wonderful, I look forward to getting to know them.

“Here is what I want to share with you. When it was announced that I was going to be the new archbishop, I spent the rest of the day in New York and we did a number of interviews and programs and meeting people and just going along the streets of New York. What I saw and what I experienced was just amazing people coming to me in a friendly open way, ‘You are the new guy? Good luck to you, God bless you, we are so happy for you, we are so happy for us,’ it was just this great positive energy that I experienced there. I go with a shepherd’s heart. I want to serve them. I want to continue to Love God and love my neighbor and do it in a style that is collaborative and builds unity, I am looking forward to getting to know and to minister with the people there.”

While he said he is excited for his opportunity in New York, he is still bittersweet about having to leave Joliet.

“I am going to miss this diocese of Joliet tremendously,” Bishop Hicks said. “Like I said about the people of New York, I have experienced the same thing here in Joliet. It is the people, it is the clergy and the religious and the laity. For over five years, what I have said to them is because of you, I feel happy and grateful and blessed and together we have done great things.”