Thomas John Rodi

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., where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. Upon his return to New Orleans, Rodi earned a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University Law School in 197. He then entered Notre Dame Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity degree in 1978.

Rodi was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1978, and then served as associate pastor at St. Ann Parish in Metairie, Louisiana and at St. Christopher the Martyr Parish in Jefferson, Louisiana.

Rodi became a judge for the metropolitan tribunal in 1983, and earned his Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in 1986. Rodi then taught canon law at Notre Dame Seminary until 1995. He also served 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 the archdiocese. Rodi was raised to the rank of honorary prelate of his holiness in 1992. He served in the following Louisiana parishes:

• Administrator of St. Matthew the Apostle in River Ridge
• Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary in New Orleans
• Pastor of St. Pius X in New Orleans
• Pastor of St. Rita in New Orleans

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

Pope Benedict XVI named Rodi as the second archbishop of the Archbishop of Mobile on April 2, 2008, replacing Bishop Oscar Lipscomb. He was formally installed as archbishop on June 6 2008.

Regarding the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden, Rodi said,

"It is also the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the first Catholic president, President Kennedy, it was 60 years today. So by coincidence, it is very meaningful we have the second time a man who professes to be Catholic be inaugurated as president."[2]