Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been named the new bishop for the Diocese of Joliet.

Pope Francis announced Hicks' appointment Friday, the Diocese of Joliet said in a news release.

Hicks, 52, will be installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus on September 29.

He will be the sixth bishop of the Joliet diocese, following Bishop Emeritus R. Conlon, who resigned in May during a leave of absence for health reasons.

Hicks is a native of south suburban Harvey and grew up in South Holland.

He was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2015. In 2018, Hicks was ordained as an auxiliary bishop.

"The Diocese of Joliet is most grateful to Pope Francis for the appointment of Bishop Ronald Hicks as its sixth bishop," Bishop Richard Pates, who has been serving the diocese as apostolic administrator since Conlon went on leave in December, said in the news release. "The bishop owns a reputation for pastoral leadership and is totally committed to the ongoing renewal of the Catholic Church. He is a worthy successor to Bishop Conlon and his predecessors."

Hicks served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago from 1994 to 1996 and then at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2005, he lived and ministered at St. Joseph College Seminary as the dean of formation.

In July 2005, Hicks moved to El Salvador to begin a five-year term as regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Central America. NPH is a home dedicated to caring for more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries.

From 2010 to 2014, Hicks served as the dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary. During that time, he assisted with weekend Masses at St. Jerome Parish in Chicago.

Growing up in South Holland, he attended St. Jude the Apostle Parish and Grade School. He graduated from Quigley Seminary South in 1985. He received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Niles College of Loyola University Chicago in 1989. He received a Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2003, both from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.