Bishop Ronald Hicks of Illinois has been appointed the next archbishop of New York by Pope Leo, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Pope Leo has appointed a new archbishop of New York who has first-hand experience of countries from where millions have emigrated to the United States, signaling the potential for a more outspoken approach from bishops on immigration.

The new archbishop of New York, viewed by some as a leader in the mold of Pope Francis, may push the head of the Roman Catholic Church on Long Island to be more assertive on hot-button issues such as immigration, some local Catholics said Thursday.