Loyola University Chicago Celebrates Alumnus the Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks (BA ’89) Appointment as Archbishop of New York

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Gabby Abbott
gabbott3@LUC.edu
773-369-5358

CHICAGO—On December 18, Pope Leo XIV named Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet as leader of the New York Archdiocese. Hicks, a Loyola University Chicago alumnus, earned a BA in philosophy in 1989, studied abroad at Loyola Rome, and completed his seminary formation at the affiliated Niles College Seminary. Following his graduation in 1989, Hicks continued his collaboration with Loyola, including service on the Council of Regents, and support for synodality initiatives led by Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies.  

The Loyola community applauded the recent appointment, noting Hicks’ skills as a leader and listener: 

“We congratulate Archbishop Ronald Hicks and take pride in his having earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola and studied abroad at Loyola Rome,” said Loyola President Mark C. Reed. “Archbishop Hicks embodies the values that Loyola as a Jesuit, Catholic institution seeks to instill—intellectual rigor, global perspective, and a commitment to serving others. His appointment is a testament to his many talents and pastoral leadership. On behalf of the Loyola community, I offer our prayers and best wishes to Archbishop Hicks as he assumes this important leadership role for New York and the global Church.” 

“The people of the Archdiocese of Chicago were blessed for many years through the ministry of Bishop Hicks, a person with both a great heart of compassion and a keen intellect,” said Claire Noonan, vice president for Mission Integration. “It is encouraging to see fellow Chicagoan, Pope Leo XIV, elevate him to this significant position for leadership not only for New Yorkers but for the global Church.”  

“Congratulations to Archbishop Designate of New York, Ron Hicks,” said Michael Patrick Murphy, director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage. “Hicks is a most gifted leader with a superb variety of training and expertise. From his experience in educating and forming seminarians and young priests, to administering an orphanage system in El Salvador, to serving as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago—and then bishop of Joliet, Hicks not only has the professional training to lead in New York, but the many personal endowments that are needed as well.”

Murphy, who has hosted Hicks at the Hank Center, adds, “I have rarely met a better, more invested listener or a naturally affable person, a person who genuinely loves Jesus and who is simply grateful to use his many gifts to serve the people of God.”

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About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.