Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, today named a new archbishop for the Archdiocese of Mobile.

The pope has named Bishop Mark S. Rivituso, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis since 2017, as the third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mobile.

Rivituso, 63, succeeds Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, who submitted his notice of retirement on his 75th birthday, March 27. 2024, as required by Church law.

Archbishop-designate Rivituso will be installed as Archbishop of Mobile by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The installation Mass is expected to be in about two months, although no date or location has been finalized.

Pope Leo XIV has named Archbishop Rodi as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Mobile until Archbishop-designate Rivituso’s installation.

“I am most grateful to the Holy Father for sending us this outstanding bishop. I give thanks to God that the Spirit has guided this selection of our new archbishop,” Archbishop Rodi said. “I ask that we all keep Archbishop-designate Rivituso in our prayers as he prepares to serve as our next archbishop.”

Archbishop-designate Rivituso also has a notable link to the Archdiocese of Mobile. He was ordained a priest on Jan. 16, 1988, by Archbishop John L. May, who led the then-Diocese of Mobile from 1969-1980 before being appointed to the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Archbishop-designate Rivituso was born in St. Louis on Sept. 20, 1961, the sixth of eight children to August (Gus) and Rosemary Rivituso. He was baptized in 1961 at St. Wenceslaus Parish in St. Louis and attended St. Wenceslaus School.

Archbishop-designate Rivituso has ministered at several parishes throughout the St. Louis area. He has also served as vicar general for the Archdiocese of St. Louis since 2011. Archbishop-designate Rivituso attended Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary, both in St. Louis. He earned a licentiate in canon and civil law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

Archbishop Rodi will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Mobile until Archbishop-designate Rivituso’s installation. Archbishop Rodi has served as Archbishop of Mobile for more than 17 years.

Archbishop-designate Rivituso will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. Mass today at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.