Franc Rode

Franc Rode, C.M. (born September 23, 1934) is a Slovenian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life from 2004 to 2011.

Born in Rodica, Slovenia, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Rode fled to Austria as a child refugee during World War II. He was later ordained a priest for the Lazarists (Congregation of the Mission) in 1960.

Rode earned a doctorate in theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris. He served as a professor of fundamental theology at the Theological Faculty of Ljubljana.

In 1997, he was appointed Archbishop of Ljubljana. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in 2006.

Cardinal Rode's tenure as Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life was marked by a focus on the renewal of religious life and addressing challenges facing consecrated persons worldwide. He participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.