Pope appoints Bishop Rozanski as new St. Louis archbishop
Accepts retirement of Archbishop Robert Carlson — Bishop Rozanski has been serving as bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts, since 2014
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Pope Francis on June 10 accepted the retirement of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis and appointed Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, to succeed him.
Archbishop Carlson turned 75 in June 2019, the age at which bishops are required to submit their retirement to the Pope.
Archbishop-designate Rozanski 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, D.C., June 10, exactly 11 years to the day that Archbishop Carlson was installed as archbishop of St. Louis in 2009.
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City said he’s looking forward to working with his new metropolitan.
“I was privileged to work with him on several committees during my time of service at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,” said Bishop McKnight. “Archbishop Rozanski has a pastor’s heart, and I think he will be well suited for the Archdiocese and the Province of Missouri.”
Bishop McKnight said he has greatly appreciated the leadership of Archbishop Carlson.
“He has been a kind and helpful mentor since he ordained me as a bishop, and I had the privilege of working with him closely when he was the chairman of the USCCB Committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.”
Bishop McKnight added that Archbishop Carlson’s efforts “to address the tragedy of racism in our communities have inspired many.”
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.
He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on Nov. 24, 1984.
On July 3, 2004, he was named by Pope St. John Paul II as auxiliary bishop for of Baltimore and was ordained bishop on Aug. 24, of that year the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
At that time, he was the youngest bishop in the United States.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Rozanski as head of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, on June 19, 2014. He was installed on Aug. 12 of that year by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., of Boston.
Archbishop Carlson will continue to serve the archdiocese of St. Louis as apostolic administrator until Archbishop-designate Rozanski’s installation.
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.
Archbishop Carlson said he’s honored to have served as leader of the archdiocese for more than a decade.
“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,” he said. “I am confident in the future of God’s strong Church in St. Louis with Archbishop-elect Rozanski as its shepherd.”
The diocese of St. Louis was erected in 1826, and was elevated to an archdiocese in 1847.
The territory of the Archdiocese of St. Louis today includes the City of St. Louis and 10 surrounding counties in Missouri.
In 2019, there were approximately 2.25 million people living within the boundaries of the archdiocese, with 505,000, or 22 percent, identifying as Catholic.
Mrs. Brinker is a staff writer for the St. Louis Review and Catholic St. Louis, publications of the St. Louis archdiocese.
