Conferral of the Degree of Doctor of Laws
Upon
His Excellency Archbishop Franc Rodé, C.M.As a University established by the priestly congregation founded by St. Vincent de Paul, St. John’s University has a special affinity for the life and mission of this extraordinary man. Vincent de Paul had a double vocation.
Although his mission of charity to the poor is probably most familiar, Vincent himself recognized another, equally important, responsibility – to train priests. It is this second calling which has earned him the title of “Light of the Clergy.”
As Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Archbishop Franc Rodé, C.M. assures that this light of Vincent continues to shine within our own world.
A native of Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, he fled with his family to Austria in 1945 and later emigrated to Argentina.
Ordained for the Vincentians in 1960, he earned a doctorate in theology at the Catholic Institute of Paris and then returned to Slovenia. Here he was an assistant pastor in Celje and Sentjakob ob Savi while also serving as Director of the Vincentian Scholasticate and Provincial Visitator. In addition he taught fundamental theology and missiology at The Theological Faculty of Ljubljana.
Named Superior of the Lazarists in Ljubljana in 1967, our honoree continued to teach at the Faculty of Theology, published a number of insightful articles in Druzina, Catholic Weekly and Bogoslovni Vestnik and became the first Editor of the Znamenje magazine.
He joined the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers in 1981 and was named Undersecretary the following year, beginning a distinguished career in the Roman Curia.
In 1993 he was appointed Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Recognizing his years of exemplary service to the Church, Pope John Paul II appointed our honoree Archbishop of Ljubljana in 1997, a position he held until his elevation to Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
The Congregation is responsible for all matters regarding orders and religious congregations as well as clerical and lay institutes, including governance, discipline, studies, rights, and privileges.
In this role, Archbishop Rodé clearly follows in the footsteps of Vincent, who is recognized as one of the founders of Societies of Apostolic Life.
It is altogether fitting that St. John’s, as a Vincentian institution, should honor one who has given his life to advancing Vincent’s own mission and so, with gratitude, pride, and admiration, the University confers upon His Excellency Archbishop Franc Rode, C.M., honoris causa, the Degree of Doctor of Laws.
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