Thomas John Rodi

The Most Reverend Thomas John Rodi
Archbishop of Mobile
See	Mobile
Installed	June 6, 2008
Predecessor	Oscar Hugh Lipscomb
Successor	Incumbent
Other posts	Bishop of Biloxi (2001-2008)
Orders
Ordination	May 20, 1978
Consecration	July 2, 2001 by Oscar Hugh Lipscomb, Francis B. Schulte, and Joseph Lawson Howze
Personal details
Born	(1949-03-27) March 27, 1949 New Orleans, Louisiana
Motto	CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS

Styles of Thomas John Rodi
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Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Thomas John Rodi (born March 27, 1949) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Mobile, having previously served as Bishop of Biloxi from 2001 to 2008.

Biography

Thomas Rodi was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated from De La Salle High School in 1967. He then attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. Upon his return to New Orleans, Rodi earned a law degree from Tulane University Law School in 1974, and entered Notre Dame Seminary, there receiving his Master's in Divinity in 1978. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1978, and then served as associate pastor at St. Ann Parish in Metairie and at St. Christopher the Martyr Parish in Jefferson.

He became a judge for the metropolitan tribunal in 1983, and earned his licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in 1986. Rodi then taught canon law at his alma mater of Notre Dame Seminary until 1995, as well as serving as director of the Office of Religious Education from 1988 to 1989, and of the Department of Pastoral Services from 1989 to 1996. In addition to his other duties, he was named Chancellor (1992) and vicar general and curial moderator (1996) of New Orleans. Rodi was also raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1992, and was administrator of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in River Ridge, ministered in Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Pius X parishes in New Orleans, and was pastor of St. Rita Parish in New Orleans.

On May 15, 2001, Rodi was appointed the second Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi, by Pope John Paul II. He received episcopal consecration on the following July 2 from Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, with Archbishop Francis Schulte and Bishop Joseph Howze serving as co-consecrators. Rodi selected as his episcopal motto: Caritas Christi Urgent Nos (2 Cor 5:14), meaning, "The love of Christ compels us."

Pope Benedict XVI later named Rodi the second Archbishop of Mobile on April 2, 2008, replacing longtime incumbent Oscar Hugh Lipscomb. He was formally installed as Archbishop on June 6 of that year.

External links

• Diocese of Biloxi

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Joseph Lawson Howze	Bishop of Biloxi 2001–2008	Succeeded by Roger Morin
Preceded by Oscar Hugh Lipscomb	Archbishop of Mobile 2008–present	Succeeded by incumbent