Cardinal Franc Rodé is a conservative former prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life who was instrumental in negotiating a new concordat between his native Slovenia and the Holy See.

He drew controversy for continuing to champion the Legionaries of Christ, whom he esteemed for their orthodoxy, after their founder’s grave misconduct had been made known.

Born on September 23, 1934, in Rodica near Ljubljana, Slovenia, Rodé’s early life was marked by upheaval; after World War II, his family fled to Austria and subsequently emigrated to Argentina in 1948.

In Buenos Aires, he joined the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) in 1952 and made his perpetual vows in 1957. Rodé pursued theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and the Catholic Institute of Paris, earning a doctorate in theology in 1968.

Ordained priest on June 29, 1960, Rodé returned to Yugoslavia in 1965, where he held various roles within the Lazarists and taught fundamental theology and Missiology at the Theological Faculty of Ljubljana.

His career in the Roman Curia began in 1978 when he became a consultor for the Secretariat for Non-Believers. By 1981, he was transferred to this dicastery and became its undersecretary in 1982. He played a significant role in organizing dialogues with European Marxists during this period.

In March 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Ljubljana. He received his episcopal consecration on April 6, 1997. Rodé was instrumental in negotiating a new concordat between Slovenia and the Holy See, which was finalized in 2004. Elevating his status within the Church, Pope Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on March 24, 2006, assigning him the title of Cardinal-Deacon of San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella.

Rodé served as prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life from February 11, 2004, until his retirement on January 4, 2011. Throughout his career, he remained active within various offices of the Roman Curia until he turned 80. Notably, he participated as a cardinal elector in the papal conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013.

On June 20, 2016, he was elevated to Cardinal-Priest by Pope Francis.

Cardinal Franc Rodé had significant ties with the Legionaries of Christ, particularly during his time as Congregation prefect. He was criticized for continuing to champion the Order after its founder, Marcial Maciel, was sanctioned by the Vatican. Rodé expressed high regard for the Legion’s charism, viewing their young men as exemplars of orthodoxy and praising their growing numbers in Latin America.

Rodé is fluent in several languages including Slovene, Spanish, Italian, French, and German.