Ronald Hicks Installed as New York Archbishop

New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks was formally installed Friday as the leader of one of the nation's largest Catholic archdioceses during a traditional ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.

The 58-year-old Hicks, dressed in red, gold and white vestments, arrived shortly before the 2 p.m. Mass and knocked three times on the cathedral's massive bronze doors with a small bronze hammer, following longstanding church custom. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who had led the archdiocese since 2009, opened the doors and welcomed him inside, symbolizing the transfer of authority. The event marked Hicks's official start as the 11th archbishop of New York, overseeing an estimated 2.5 million Catholics across Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and seven counties to the north.

Hicks succeeds Dolan, who turned 76 on Friday and received a standing ovation from the congregation, including from his successor. The crowd inside the packed cathedral spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" to Dolan after his milestone was announced. A letter from Pope Leo XIV, read during the Mass, confirmed Hicks's appointment, which the pontiff made in December. Portions of the service were conducted in Spanish,...