John Cody was born on December 24, 1907 in Missouri. His father was the deputy chief of the St. Louis Fire Department, instilling a sense of service and duty in young John from an early age. He went on to earn degrees in philosophy and theology from the College of the Propagation of the Faith, laying the foundation for his future in the Roman Catholic Church.
John Cody's career in the church began with his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis and Titular Bishop of Apollonia by Pope Pius XII in 1947. This marked the beginning of his rise through the ranks of the Roman Catholic Church, culminating in his appointments as Archbishop of both New Orleans and Chicago.
John Cody's time as Archbishop of Chicago was marked by scandal, as one million dollars of church funds mysteriously disappeared from the Chicago diocese. Despite this controversy, Cody continued to serve in his role, overseeing the spiritual and administrative needs of the faithful in Chicago.
John Cody's legacy in the Roman Catholic Church is a complex one, marked by both accomplishments and controversy. His dedication to his faith and his service to the church are undeniable, but his tenure as Archbishop of Chicago will always be shadowed by the cloud of the missing funds.