<p class="speakable"><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/pope-leo-xiv" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pope Leo XIV</a> is expected to appoint Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet as the next archbishop of New York to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan as early as "this week," according to a source with direct knowledge of the archdiocese.</p><p class="speakable">The news came after Dolan sent a mandatory retirement request to Pope Leo in February as he reached his 75th birthday.</p><p>"There are rumblings that this week Pope Leo will accept Cardinal Dolan’s resignation and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/senate/appointments" rel="noopener" target="_blank">appoint Bishop Ron Hicks</a> to replace him," the source told Fox News Digital.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/reporters-notebook-papal-plane-beyond-covering-pope-leo-xivs-first-foreign-trip" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: ON THE PAPAL PLANE AND BEYOND — COVERING POPE LEO XIV’S FIRST FOREIGN TRIP</strong></a></p><p>The source also highlighted that "it would be very strange to replace a beloved cardinal before Christmas."</p><p>This latest development signals an imminent <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/house-of-representatives/leadership" rel="noopener" target="_blank">shift in leadership</a> for one of the most prominent Catholic archdioceses in the world, and also just before Christmas.</p><p>Dolan has served as archbishop of New York since 2009, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him after his tenure in Milwaukee.</p><p>Hicks, 58, could have emerged as a leading contender because of his <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/midwest/illinois" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Midwestern roots</a> and reputation.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-tim-scott-outlines-importance-faith-everyday-american-life" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong><u>SEN. TIM SCOTT OUTLINES IMPORTANCE OF FAITH IN EVERYDAY AMERICAN LIFE</u></strong></a></p><p>Born in Harvey, Illinois, and raised in South Holland, Hicks was appointed bishop of Joliet by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/pope-francis" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a> in 2020.</p><p>His ties to Illinois and to the Chicago region, where Pope Leo also grew up, could be seen as strengthening his standing.</p><p>Speaking about <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/religion/roman-catholic" rel="noopener" target="_blank">the pontiff</a> shortly after his election in 2024, Hicks told WGN-TV that the pope felt "relatable," noting, "He’s a normal guy from a normal neighborhood we grew up in."</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pope-leo-xiv-agrees-throw-out-first-pitch-white-sox-new-stadium-after-invite-from-team-owner" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>POPE LEO XIV AGREES TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT WHITE SOX NEW STADIUM AFTER INVITE FROM TEAM OWNER</strong></a></p><p>On Monday, Rob Astorino, a Westchester County executive with ties to Dolan and the New York archdiocese, shared a post on X on the matter.</p><p>"Strong rumors that @Pontifex has accepted the resignation of @CardinalDolan and will appoint Bishop Ron Hicks of Joliet, Illinois," the post read.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pritzker-seeks-sympathy-from-pope-leo-over-trumps-chicago-immigration-blitz" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>PRITZKER SEEKS SYMPATHY FROM POPE LEO OVER TRUMP’S CHICAGO IMMIGRATION ‘BLITZ’</strong></a></p><p>If confirmed, Hicks would also take over leadership at a moment of difficulty for the Archdiocese of New York.</p><p>The church is confronting more than 1,300 <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/controversies" rel="noopener" target="_blank">clergy sexual-abuse claims</a>, prompting an urgent need to raise approximately $300 million in settlement funds. </p><p>On Dec. 9, the archdiocese announced it would compensate victims, according to <a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/archdiocese-300m-fund-sexual-abuse-victims" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fox 5</a>.</p><p>To meet these obligations, the archdiocese has enacted layoffs, cut its operating budget by 10%, and begun <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/real-estate/selling" rel="noopener" target="_blank">selling major real estate assets</a>.</p><p>It also announced the $490 million sale of the land beneath the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, while another $100 million is expected from selling its former headquarters at 1011 First Avenue.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP</strong></a></p><p>Fox News Digital has reached out to the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Joliet for comment.</p>