Pope Francis appoints Bishop Rozanski as new archbishop of St. Louis, accepts retirement of Archbishop Carlson
(please see the entire St. Louis Review article by Jennifer Brinker at https://www.archstl.org/archbishop-carlson-5399)
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, as the 11th bishop and 10th archbishop of St. Louis and has accepted the retirement of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson.
Archbishop Carlson turned 75 in June 2019, the age at which bishops are required to submit their retirement to the pope. Bishop-designate Rozanski, 61, has served as head of the Diocese of Springfield since 2014. He previously served as a priest and auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, made the announcement in Washington June 10, exactly 11 years to the day that Archbishop Carlson was installed as archbishop of St. Louis in 2009.
The Mass of installation for Archbishop-designate Rozanski’s Mass is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25, the feast of St. Louis. More information on the Mass will be forthcoming as details are confirmed.
Archbishop Carlson will continue to serve the Archdiocese of St. Louis as apostolic administrator until the installation of Archbishop-designate Rozanski. The Archdiocese of St. Louis said in a statement that it is grateful to Archbishop Carlson for his faithful and strong leadership throughout the triumphs and challenges of the last decade, and looks forward to the gifts he will continue to offer in the next chapter of his life.
“I am honored to have served as leader of the Archdiocese of St. Louis for more than a decade,” Archbishop Carlson said. “This large and generous community of faithful Catholics will continue to encourage me in my faith journey, and I know that Bishop Rozanski will cherish his inheritance. I am confident in the future of God’s strong Church in St. Louis with (Archbishopdesignate) Rozanski as its shepherd.”
A few quick facts about Archbishop-elect Mitchell Rozanski
BORN: Aug. 6, 1958 in Baltimore.
EDUCATION: Sacred Heart of Mary, Graceland Park, elementary school, Dundalk, Maryland. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School (Essex). Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C (seminary training at the Theological College).
PRIESTLY ORDINATION: Ordained by Archbishop William Donald Borders for the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on Nov. 24, 1984.
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION: Ordained by William Cardinal Keeler, Bishop William Newman and Bishop W. Francis Maloony on Aug. 24, 2004 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
INSTALLED AS BISHOP OF SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS: Installed by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., on Aug. 12, 2014.
APPOINTED AS 10th ARCHBISHOP OF ST. LOUIS: Appointed by Pope Francis June 10, 2020.
Pope