Timothy Cardinal Dolan shared a warm embrace with his successor, Bishop Ronald Hicks, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Thursday as the New York archbishop’s 16-year tenure came to an end.

Dolan, 75, made his friendly, first public appearance with the little-known cleric from Illinois, who was handpicked by Pope Leo XIV to replace the powerful leader of the Archdiocese of New York’s 2.8 million Roman Catholics.

Hicks, 58, who will be installed in his new role on February 6, told reporters he was looking forward to taking the reins — and to face the tough challenges that were sure to come with it.

“As excited as I am to get to know the city and the archdiocese and all who call this home, I’m also very aware that these are complex and challenging days, especially as we face issues of life, faith, justice, peace, and healing,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working with the great variety and diversity of faith leaders and civic leaders to keep that hope alive and to make real the promise of the ‘golden door’ by acting in mutual respect and working to uphold human dignity,” Hicks said.

Hicks, leader of the Diocese of Joliet since 2020, grew up just 14 blocks from the first US pontiff’s Windy City childhood home. 

He had been rumored to be next in line after Dolan reached the church’s mandatory retirement age of 75 in February, though cardinals sometimes serve until 80, insiders first told The Post this week.

Dolan revealed that he gave Hicks — who said he’s only been in the Big Apple 10 times previously — the same advice his predecessor gave him.

“New York is a warm, welcoming city. They will love you, and you will come to love them.”

The words of wisdom “worked,” said Dolan, who arrived in New York in 2009, after Pope Benedict XVI chose him to replace 77-year-old Edward Cardinal Egan upon his retirement.

“And I love New York. I love this archdiocese, I’ve enjoyed working with all of you,” Dolan said. “That was the advice given to me, to try to do that. I took it, and I’m grateful that I did. And I eagerly pass it on to my beloved successor.”

The bishop will also inherit the archdiocese’s struggles to raise enough money to cover the $300 million expected to settle about 1,300 child sex abuse claims against clergy and lay staffers, as part of a mediation process launched under Dolan.

“I’m committed to learning about the issues before our church, including the funds the archdiocese has set aside to help resolve sexual abuse claims,” he said Thursday.

Hicks was named the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet by Pope Francis in July 2020 and was installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus two months later, according to his diocese profile.

He had the opportunity to meet his hometown Holy Father, born Robert Prevost, last August at a parish in the Joliet, Ill., diocese before he was named the first American pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

The now-Pope gave a “wonderful talk,” he recalled, and “Afterwards he said, ‘can I just get five minutes with you?’ And that five minutes turned into about 20 minutes.”

“I found him to be extremely relatable,” Hicks said, adding that he grew up in the same areas and went to the same parks and swimming pools.

Standing with Dolan, a St. Louis, Mo., native and Cardinals diehard, Hicks touted his love of the Chicago Cubs and deep-dish pizza, which the move to New York won’t help to change.

Bishop Robert Brennan, head of the Diocese of Brooklyn, also gave a warm welcome to Hicks, who will serve faithful in Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island.

“I join with New Yorkers in welcoming Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who brings with him extensive pastoral experience and a deep pastoral heart,” Brennan said to The Post. 

“His most recent pastoral letter, ‘Make,’ reflects a strong commitment to building the Catholic Church and forming disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Brennan, whose diocese also serves Queens. 

“The New York area represents a significant opportunity to welcome new followers and to strengthen the faithful.” 

Dolan, who headed the Diocese of Milwaukee before moving to New York, will be sorely missed by many New Yorkers of all faiths.

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said Dolan often reached out across the religious aisle. 

“He is very special to the Jewish community and other faith communities,” the rabbi said. “He made interfaith relationships a priority of his ministry. To me, he’s family. 

“He’s more than one person. He lives in the plural.”

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio said Dolan “was a moral force for good in the city,” and “a unifier” when tensions were high after crises — including the murders of NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in December 2014 and the death of Eric Garner at the hands of police that July.

“There were raw feelings,” de Blasio said. “He took a leading role. He helped calm the waters. I found him to be a fantastic partner.”