Francis Carroll

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Francis Patrick Carroll is a retired Roman Catholic Archbishop and a former president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.

Born in Ganmain, NSW on 9 September 1930, he was the second of seven children of Patrick and Rose Carroll. He was ordained a priest in 1954 in Saint Brendan's Church, Ganmain. Pope Paul VI appointed him bishop of Wagga Wagga in 1968. In 1983 he was appointed Archbishop of Canberra, with his seat at St Christopher’s Cathedral. He chose as his motto: ‘Nova et Vetera’ meaning things both new and old. Popularly known as Fr Francis, he served the church in Canberra for 23 years. The development of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese is a significant part of his legacy. He was the first Australian Bishop to call a Diocesan Synod in Canberra in 1989.

In 2001, he signed a decree, much to the dismay of many traditionalists, that would eliminate the obligation for Catholics in Australia to attend Mass on holy days of obligation, Christmas and the Assumption being the only exceptions.

He was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1st January, 2001 for Service to Australian Society through the Roman Catholic Church.

In February 2006 Archbishop Francis Carroll's contribution to Canberra and rural NSW was honoured through a scholarship to help students attend Australian Catholic University's Canberra campus. The Francis Carroll Scholarship will provide much-needed financial support to students from rural communities in NSW and ACT. In May 2006 Archbishop Francis Carroll was given Australian Catholic University’s highest honour, Doctor of the University in recognition of his tireless contribution to Catholic education. He now lives in retirement in Wagga where he hopes for time for reflection and occasional ministry in rural communities.