The Vatican announced on Thursday that Bishop Ronald Hicks, who has led the Diocese of Joliet for the past five years, will become archbishop of New York.

Hicks will be installed on Feb. 6 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, according to a news release provided by the Diocese of Joliet.

Hicks will continue as bishop in Joliet until his installation in the Archdiocese of New York. He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in September 2020.

“I have been deeply blessed to serve the people of the Diocese of Joliet,” Hicks said in a statement in the release. “I will carry the faith, generosity, and the spirit of this diocese with me as I begin this new chapter of ministry.”

Reports of Hicks potential appointment to the archdiocese of New York began to surface early this week.

The news release announcing Hicks’ appointment noted that he “has led significant pastoral initiatives, including diocesan restructuring and a renewed focus on catechesis, evangelization, and faith into action.”

The diocesan restructuring was controversial, particularly at St. Joseph Church in downtown Joliet, a traditional Slovenian church that Hicks merged with three other parishes.

Parishoners at St. Joseph appealed the merger to the Vatican, which decided to reverse Hicks’ decision and allowed the parish to stand on its own.

The St. Joseph Church reversal occurred under Pope Francis.

The appointment of Hicks to the Archdiocese of New York was made by Pope Leo XIV, who has some common roots with Hicks.

Both Pope Leo and Hicks are south suburbanites. Hicks grew up in South Holland. Pope Leo famously grew up in Dolton, a heritage that was highlighted in media reports after he became pope.

They both also served in Latin America.

Hicks from 2005 to 2010 was regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, an organization devoted to caring for orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Pope Leo XIV early in his priesthood in the 1980s did missionary work in Peru and continues to hold dual citizenship in the South American country and in the United States.

This is a developing story. Check for updates.