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New NY archbishop — a Chicago priest, missionary, bridge builder — reflects Pope Leo’s style

by Camillo Barone | NCR

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet as the next archbishop of New York, marking a decisive shift in leadership style for one of the most visible dioceses in the United States.

Hicks, 58, succeeds Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation was accepted after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in February. The appointment, announced today (Dec. 18) by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, ends months of speculation and places a bishop with a markedly pastoral and missionary profile at the helm of an archdiocese facing institutional and financial restructuring and deep cultural change.

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Haitian Catholics persevere with faith, courage amid adversity in U.S. and in troubled homeland

By Mark Zimmermann, Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, acknowledged “the struggle” that is Haiti’s “reality,” but he assured an estimated 5,000 Haitian Catholics gathered in Washington that Mary “walks with us in our struggles” as a mother.

The cardinal, who was apostolic nuncio in Haiti from 1995 until 1999, celebrated the Mass for the annual Haitian Catholic Community Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Dec. 6.

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Pope Leo XIV named to Vogue’s 2025 ‘Best Dressed People’ list

The 70-year-old pope is the first to be named to the prestigious fashion list, partly an ode to his return to certain papal vestment traditions.

By Nate Tinner-Williams | Black Catholic Messenger

Pope Leo XIV has been named to Vogue’s 2025 “Best Dressed People” list, with praise for his marked turn from the “humble tastes” of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and his odes to iconic American looks.

The annual unranked list was released by the magazine on Dec. 11, including pictures of several notable ensembles from the first American pontiff, and the first pope to be so honored by the New York-based magazine. Among the features in their profile is their pick for his best outfit of the year.

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Sainthood effort begins for Mother Antonia, the nun who chose to bring Gospel behind bars

Written by Sandra Dibble | OSV News

TIJUANA, Mexico (OSV News) — Antonia Brenner was twice divorced and had raised seven children when she gave up her comfortable life in Southern California to live in a small prison cell in the border city of Tijuana.

The onetime Beverly Hills resident became a nun at age 50, and for more than three decades devoted her life to serving not only those behind bars, but also others on the outside who were poor, sick, and vulnerable.

Twelve years after her death at age 86, members of her religious community are launching an effort to canonize Mother Antonia.