"Leo's nomination of Hicks is his most significant appointment to the church in the United States since his election, with the archbishop of New York holding an important position on the national stage both in the church and across the US.

Archbishops of New York are normally made cardinals, and Hicks can expect even greater scrutiny at a time when the Catholic Church is led by its first American pope."

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"Last month, Hicks made a statement on immigration, "expressing our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters." He was responding to a rare intervention from the US bishops criticizing the White House's immigration policies, saying that their message underlines their "concerns, opposition, and hopes with clarity and conviction."

Bishop Hicks is, like the pope, a fellow Chicagoan who has spent time in Latin America. Hicks, until now the Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, had a five-year stint in El Salvador where he worked to help orphaned and abandoned children. He also did similar work in Mexico prior to that. His background reflects the growing influence of

the Hispanic Catholic community in the US and resembles a similar background to that of Leo who spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru."

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Merry Christmas, NY!