{"id":25070,"date":"2025-12-18T14:11:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T13:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/?p=25070"},"modified":"2025-12-18T15:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:51:23","slug":"breaking-pope-leo-removes-trump-aligned-dolan-installs-pro-migrant-archbishop-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/breaking-pope-leo-removes-trump-aligned-dolan-installs-pro-migrant-archbishop-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Pope Leo Removes Trump\u2011Aligned Dolan, Installs Pro\u2011Migrant Archbishop in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pope Leo XIV, the first American\u2011born pope and a former missionary in Peru, has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York, a move widely interpreted as a sign that the Catholic Church intends to take a more assertive stance on immigration during Donald Trump\u2019s presidency. The appointment places a vocal advocate for migrant rights in one of the most influential Catholic posts in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hicks, 58, has firsthand experience working in countries from which millions have emigrated to the United States, a background that Vatican officials say shaped his strong pastoral focus on migrant communities. His appointment comes at a time when the Trump administration has intensified its anti\u2011immigration policies, prompting increasingly vocal criticism from the U.S. Catholic hierarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New York archdiocese has long played a central role in shaping national debates on social justice and humanitarian issues. Hicks will succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the long\u2011serving Archbishop of New York and one of the most publicly recognizable Catholic leaders in the country. Dolan turned 75 earlier this year, the age at which bishops must submit their resignation to the pope, and his departure closes a chapter marked by his national visibility and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dolan\u2019s leadership is central to understanding the significance of Hicks\u2019 appointment. As the outgoing head of one of the most powerful dioceses in the United States, Dolan helped define the Church\u2019s public posture during years of political turbulence, including the Trump administration\u2019s immigration battles. His retirement creates an opening for Pope Leo to redirect the tone and priorities of the U.S. Church \u2014 especially on immigration, where Hicks\u2019 views differ from Dolan\u2019s more cautious approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Timothy Dolan, who is retiring as Archbishop of New York, drew criticism when he likened Charlie Kirk, the conservative political activist assassinated in September, to Saint Paul.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dolan, known for his media presence and ability to navigate political circles, maintained relationships across the political spectrum but had a notably warmer rapport with President Trump than Pope Francis did. He offered prayers at Trump\u2019s 2017 and 2025 inaugurations and publicly praised the president\u2019s expressions of faith, a contrast that often placed him at the center of debates about the Church\u2019s political neutrality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Dolan drew criticism when he compared the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Saint Paul, a remark many Catholics viewed as excessive. His high\u2011profile style often made him a lightning rod for both praise and controversy, shaping the environment Hicks will now inherit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hicks\u2019 pastoral identity was shaped in part by years spent in Latin America, including a five\u2011year mission in El Salvador supporting abandoned and orphaned children, as well as earlier work in Mexico. His background mirrors the trajectory of Pope Leo, who spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. Both men come from the Chicago area, a connection Hicks has described as deeply personal, noting that they grew up in neighboring communities and shared similar childhood experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Hicks issued a public statement \u201cexpressing our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters,\u201d after U.S. bishops delivered a rare collective rebuke of the White House\u2019s immigration policies. He said their message reflected \u201cconcerns, opposition, and hopes with clarity and conviction,\u201d signaling his willingness to confront federal policy directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catholic analysts say Hicks is viewed as a bridge\u2011builder rather than a culture\u2011war figure. Commentator Michael Sean Winters described him as a \u201clistener\u201d who avoids ideological battles and has worked effectively with bishops across the theological spectrum. Hicks has opposed efforts by some U.S. bishops to deny communion to President Biden, reflecting his preference for dialogue over confrontation. He is also known for his commitment to Catholic social teaching, including labor rights, economic justice and advocacy for marginalized communities \u2014 hallmarks of Chicago\u2019s Catholic tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hicks\u2019 appointment is also believed to have the support of Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, a close ally of Pope Leo and a key figure in the Vatican office that oversees bishop appointments. Cupich has long championed migrant rights and was a strong supporter of Pope Francis\u2019 reforms, even as the late pontiff faced resistance from some U.S. bishops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As archbishop, Hicks will also inherit the ongoing fallout from the clerical abuse crisis. The archdiocese recently announced a $300 million fund to compensate roughly 1,300 survivors, a process that will require significant property sales and financial restructuring. Hicks has previously said the Church must confront wrongdoing directly and transparently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hicks is expected to take office early next year, with his installation Mass likely to draw significant political and religious attention. Supporters say his Chicago upbringing and pastoral resilience have prepared him for the challenges ahead, noting that \u201cif you grew up on the South Side, you learn how to take a punch and get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pope Leo XIV, the first American\u2011born pope and a former missionary in Peru, has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York, a move widely interpreted as a sign that the Catholic Church intends to take a more assertive stance on immigration during Donald Trump\u2019s presidency. The appointment places a vocal advocate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":25072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5,18,1138],"tags":[2281,473,1726,80,2284,2283],"class_list":["post-25070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-international","category-lifestyle","category-politics","tag-archbishop-ronald-hicks","tag-donald-trump","tag-immigration-policy","tag-pope-leo-xiv","tag-u-s-bishops","tag-u-s-catholic-church"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.funminews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot_18-12-2025_511_edition.cnn_.com_.jpeg?fit=658%2C441&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25070"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25075,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25070\/revisions\/25075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}