The Archbishop of New York is the head of the Archdiocese of New York, who is responsible for looking after its spiritual and administrative needs. As the archdiocese is the metropolitan see of the Catholic ecclesiastical province encompassing nearly all of the state of New York, the Archbishop of New York also administers the bishops who head the suffragan dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Rockville Centre and Syracuse. The current archbishop is Ronald Hicks.
The archdiocese began as the Diocese of New York, which was created on April 8, 1808. R. Luke Concanen was appointed its first bishop; however, he was unable to leave the Italian Peninsula due to the Napoleonic Wars and died before he could set out for New York. Under the reign of his successor, John Connolly, a canonical visitation of the diocese was conducted. On account of the population increase due largely to Catholic immigrants from Ireland and Germany, the Holy See decided to elevate the diocese to the status of archdiocese on July 19, 1850. John Hughes became the first archbishop of the newly-formed metropolitan see. Because of the prominence of the position and the challenges that accompany it, Pope John Paul II described the office as "archbishop of the capital of the world."
Eleven men have been Archbishop of New York; another three were bishop of its predecessor diocese. Of these, only one (John Dubois) was neither born in Ireland nor was second-generation Irish. Eight archbishops were elevated to the College of Cardinals. John McCloskey, the fifth ordinary of the archdiocese, was the first archbishop to be born in the United States, as well as the first born in what is now New York City. When he was raised to cardinal in 1875, he became the first cardinal from America. Francis Spellman had the longest tenure as Archbishop of New York, serving for 28 years from 1939 to 1967, while Concanen held the position for 26 months (1808–1810), marking the shortest episcopacy.
List of ordinaries +KeyDenotes archbishop who was elevated to the College of CardinalsOPDominican OrderPSSSociety of the Priests of Saint Sulpice
Bishops of New York +BishopsFromUntilIncumbentNotes 18081810, Appointed on April 8, 1808. Died on June 19, 1810, having never visited the Diocese.18141825, Appointed on October 4, 1814. Arrived in New York on November 24, 1815. Died on February 6, 1825.18261842 , Appointed on May 23, 1826. Died on December 20, 1842.18421850Coadjutor bishop from 1837 to 1842
Archbishops of New York +ArchbishopsFromUntilIncumbentNotes 18501864Became the first Archbishop of New York on July 19, 1850. Died on January 3, 1864.18641885Coadjutor archbishop from 1843 to 1847. Translated to Albany on May 21, 1847. Appointed on May 6, 1864. First archbishop to be born in the United States and in New York City. Elevated to cardinal on March 15, 1875. Died on October 10, 1885.18851902Coadjutor archbishop from 1880 to 1885. Died on May 5, 1902.19021918Auxiliary bishop from 1895 to 1902. Elevated to cardinal on November 27, 1911. Died on September 17, 1918.19191938Auxiliary bishop from 1914 to 1917. Elevated to cardinal on March 24, 1924. Died on September 4, 1938.19391967Appointed on April 15, 1939. Elevated to cardinal on February 18, 1946. Died on December 2, 1967.19681983Auxiliary bishop from 1965 to 1968. Elevated to cardinal on April 28, 1969. Died on October 6, 1983.19842000Appointed on January 26, 1984. Elevated to cardinal on May 25, 1985. Died on May 3, 2000.20002009Auxiliary bishop from 1985 to 1988. Elevated to cardinal on February 21, 2001. Retired on February 23, 2009, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Died on March 5, 2015.20092025Appointed on February 23, 2009. Elevated to cardinal on February 18, 2012. Retired on December 18, 2025, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.2026presentAppointed on December 18, 2025.
Notes
References Specific
Bibliography