The Philadelphia Archdiocese announced Thursday that the pope has named Mary E. Rochford to the pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great.
It is one of the highest honors the pope can bestow on an individual.
Rochford served as Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 2008 to March 2012.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput congratulated Rochford Thursday, calling her "a source of great pride for our archdiocese."
