# Franc Rode

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Slovenian cardinal

For the Slovenian engineer and inventor, see [France Rode](/source/France_Rode).

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Franc Rode Archbishop Emeritus of Ljubljana Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Appointed 11 February 2004 Term ended 4 January 2011 Predecessor Eduardo Martínez Somalo Successor João Braz de Aviz Other post Cardinal-Priest ("pro hac vice") of San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella Previous posts Secretary of the Secretariat of Non-Believers (1987–1993) Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture (1993–1997) Archbishop of Ljubljana (1997–2004) Orders Ordination 29 June 1960 by André-Jean-François Defebvre Consecration 6 April 1997 by Alojzij Šuštar Created cardinal 24 March 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born Franc Rode (1934-09-23) 23 September 1934 (age 91) Rodica, Slovenia Alma mater Pontifical Gregorian University, Catholic Institute of Paris Motto Stati inu obstati Coat of arms

**Franc Rode** [CM](/source/Congregation_of_the_Mission) (or **Rodé**;[1] born 23 September 1934) is a [Slovenian Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Slovenia) prelate who served as prefect of the [Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life](/source/Dicastery_for_Institutes_of_Consecrated_Life_and_Societies_of_Apostolic_Life) from 2004 to 2011. He is a member of the [Congregation of the Mission](/source/Congregation_of_the_Mission) and was made a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 2006.[2]

## Biography

### Early life and religious profession

Franc Rode was born in [Rodica](/source/Rodica%2C_Dom%C5%BEale) near [Ljubljana](/source/Ljubljana), in [Yugoslavia](/source/Yugoslavia) (modern-day [Slovenia](/source/Slovenia)). In 1945, he and his family sought refuge in Austria and later fled to [Argentina](/source/Argentina) in 1948. He entered the [Congregation of the Mission](/source/Congregation_of_the_Mission), more commonly known as the Vincentians or Lazarists, in [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires) in 1952, making his perpetual profession in 1957. Rode studied at the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) in Rome, and at the [Catholic Institute of Paris](/source/Institut_Catholique_de_Paris), from where he obtained his [doctorate in theology](/source/Doctor_of_Theology) in 1968. Rode is fluent in [Slovene](/source/Slovene_language), Spanish, Italian, French, and German.

### Pastoral work

Rode was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders) to the priesthood by Bishop André-Jean-François Defebvre CM, on 29 June 1960 in Paris. In 1965, at the request of his [superiors](/source/Superior_(hierarchy)), Rode returned to Yugoslavia, where he worked as vice-[pastor](/source/Curate), [director](/source/Director_(education)) of studies and provincial visitor of the Lazarists, and professor of fundamental [theology](/source/Theology) and [Missiology](/source/Missiology) at the Theological Faculty of Ljubljana.

### Curial work

In 1978, Rode was made [consultor](/source/Consultor) of the Secretariat for Non-Believers in the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia), being transferred to that [dicastery](/source/Dicastery) in 1981 and rising to become its [Undersecretary](/source/Undersecretary) in 1982. During this time, he assisted in the organization of some significant dialogue sessions with European [Marxists](/source/Marxist). When [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) united the [Pontifical Council for Culture](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Culture) and Pontifical Council for Non-Believers in 1993, he appointed Rode Secretary of the new Pontifical Council for Culture. As Secretary, he served as the second-highest official of that dicastery, under [Paul Poupard](/source/Paul_Poupard).

### Archbishop

On 5 March 1997, Pope John Paul appointed Rode [Archbishop of Ljubljana](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Ljubljana). He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholicism)) on the following 6 April from Archbishop [Alojzij Šuštar](/source/Alojzij_%C5%A0u%C5%A1tar), with Archbishop Franc Perko and Cardinal [Aloysius Ambrozic](/source/Aloysius_Ambrozic), [Archbishop of Toronto](/source/Archbishop_of_Toronto), a fellow ethnic [Slovene](/source/Slovenes) bishop from the diaspora serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator), in the Cathedral of Ljubljana. Rode successfully guided the negotiations for a new [concordat](/source/Concordat) to final approval in 2004.

### Cardinal

Rode was created a [Cardinal Deacon](/source/Cardinal_Deacon) by Pope Benedict XVI on 24 March 2006. His motto is a phrase in Old Slovene, "Stati inu obstati" (To Exist and Persevere / To Stand and Withstand), taken from the Catechism of [Primož Trubar](/source/Primo%C5%BE_Trubar), which is also inscribed on the [Slovenian 1 euro coin](/source/Slovenian_euro_coins). In 2013, he was the first Slovenian in history to participate in a papal conclave.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life

Rode returned to the Roman Curia upon his nomination as [prefect](/source/Prefect) of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on 11 February 2004.[3] [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) later created Rode [Cardinal-Deacon](/source/Cardinal-Deacon) of [S. Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella](/source/List_of_titular_churches_in_Rome) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 24 March 2006. In January 2011, he retired as the prefect of the Congregation.[4][5]

Until his 80th birthday, Rode was a member of the various offices in the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia): congregations of [Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments](/source/Congregation_for_Divine_Worship_and_the_Discipline_of_the_Sacraments); [for Bishops](/source/Congregation_for_Bishops); [for the Evangelization of Peoples](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples); [for Catholic Education](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education); [Pontifical Council for Culture](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Culture) and the [Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei](/source/Pontifical_Commission_Ecclesia_Dei).

He was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_for_the_2013_papal_conclave) who participated in the [2013 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2013) that elected [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis).

### Allegations of fatherhood

In August 2012, the Slovenian newspaper [Delo](/source/Delo_(newspaper)) reported allegations that Rode had [fathered a child](/source/Paternity_(law)).[6] Rode denied the allegations and expressed willingness to submit to a [DNA test](/source/DNA_test). He also announced lawsuits against the media for alleged breaches of his [right to privacy](/source/Right_to_privacy). "After all they've done to me they deserve this," he said.[7] In October 2012, the alleged child, Peter Stelzer, and the alleged father, Franc Rode, performed a DNA test of fatherhood at the [Institute for Legal Medicine in Munich](/source/Institute_for_Legal_Medicine_in_Munich). The test was reported negative by the institute and both Rode and Stelzer irrevocably agreed with the reported result.[8][9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-vatican.va_1-0)** ["RODÉ Card. Franc, C.M."](https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rode_f_en.html) *Vatican.va*. Holy See Press Office. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Benedict XVI names 15 new Cardinals"](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/6059/benedict-xvi-names-15-new-cardinals). *[Catholic News Agency](/source/Catholic_News_Agency)*. 22 February 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 11.02.2004"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/02/11/0070/00232.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 February 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [STA.si](http://www.sta.si/vest.php?s=a&t=0&id=1592071)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [RTVSLO.si](http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/papez-je-sprejel-rodetov-odstop/247780)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [\[1\]](http://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/razkrivamo-peter-s-upa-da-bo-rode-privolil-v-test-ocetovstva.html) Delo.si 28 August (in Slovenian) Retrieved 21 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [\[2\]](http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/rode-napoveduje-tozbe-po-vsem-kar-so-mi-povzrocili-si-to-zasluzijo/290283) RTVSLO.si 28 August (in Slovenian) Retrieved 21 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Uradno: kardinal Rode nima sina, tožbe zaradi »opravljanja« v pripravi"](https://old.slovenskenovice.si/novice/slovenija/uradno-kardinal-rode-nima-sina-tozbe-zaradi-opravljanja-v-pripravi) [It's official: Cardinal Rode has no son, a lawsuit for "gossip" is in the works]. *Slovenske novice* (in Slovenian). 2 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Uradno: Franc Rode ni oče Petra Stelzerja"](https://siol.net/novice/slovenija/uradno-franc-rode-ni-oce-petra-stelzerja-138781) [Officially: Franc Rode is not Peter Stelzer's father]. *Siol.net* (in Slovenian). 2 October 2012.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Franc Rode](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Franc_Rode)***.

- ["Rodé Card. Franc, C.M."](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rode_f.html) [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070633/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rode_f.html) from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.

- [Franc Rode](https://web.archive.org/web/20061027161859/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=233)

- Media related to [Franc Rode](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Franc_Rode) at Wikimedia Commons

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Bernard Henri René Jacqueline Undersecretary of the Secretariat for Non-Believers 1982 – 1987 Succeeded by José Montero Preceded by Jordán Gallego Salvadores Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers 1987 – 25 March 1993 Office abolished Preceded by Hervé Carrier Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture 25 March 1993 – 5 March 1997 Succeeded by Bernard Ardura Preceded by Alojzij Šuštar Archbishop of Ljubljana 5 March 1997 – 11 February 2004 Succeeded by Alojzij Uran Preceded by Alojzij Šuštar President of the Slovenian Episcopal Conference 1997 – 2004 Succeeded by Franc Kramberger Preceded by Eduardo Martínez Somalo Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life 11 February 2004 – 4 January 2011 Succeeded by João Braz de Aviz Preceded by Leo Scheffczyk Cardinal-Deacon of San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella 24 March 2006 – 20 June 2016 Himself as Cardinal-Priest Himself as Cardinal-Deacon Cardinal-Priest 'pro hac vice' of San Francesco Saverio alla Garbatella 20 June 2016 – Incumbent

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