John George Vlazny

Styles of John George Vlazny
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop
Posthumous style	not applicable

John George Vlazny (born February 22, 1937) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the tenth archbishop of Portland in Oregon, serving from 1997-2013. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago (1983–1987) and Bishop of Winona (1987–1997). On January 29, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced the acceptance of his resignation, with Bishop Alexander King Sample to succeed him in Portland.

John Vlazny was born in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Marie (née Brezina) Vlazny, who were of Czech ancestry. His father was originally married to the sister of Vlazny's mother, Hattie Brezina, who died when their daughter, Marcella, was 13. In addition to his half-sister, he has a younger sister, Marion. His father, who died from cancer when Vlazny was 18, owned a pharmacy at a three-story building at the corner of 18th and Throop Streets.

Vlazny received his early education at the parochial school of St. Gall Church. After attending Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. He continued his studies in Rome, where he attended the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University. He there earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1960 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1962.