13 Facts About Francis Carroll

Francis Carroll served as president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference between 2000 and 2006.

Francis Carroll died in Wagga Wagga on 14 March 2024, at the age of 93.

Francis Carroll was born in Ganmain, New South Wales, the second of seven children of Patrick and Rose Francis Carroll.

Francis Carroll was ordained a priest in 1954 in St Brendan's Church, Ganmain.

Francis Carroll was a spiritual director to the Cursillo movement and was a member of the first National Catholic Education Commission.

Francis Carroll was the Australian representative at the Synod of Bishops on Catechesis in 1977 and was the first chairperson of the National Catholic Education Commission from 1974 to 1978, remaining a member until 1988.

Popularly known as "Father Francis Carroll", he served the Church in Canberra for 23 years.

Francis Carroll was the first Australian bishop to call a diocesan synod since the Second Vatican Council.

In 2001, Francis Carroll signed a decree that reduced the holy days of obligation to Christmas, the Assumption and every Sunday as the days on which Catholics in Australia are obliged to attend Mass.

Francis Carroll advocated for the extension of Australian visas for asylum seekers, particularly from Timor Leste.

For over ten years, Francis Carroll sought the creation of a special visa category for the East Timorese asylum seekers, most of whom are active members of the Catholic community and have lived in Australia.

In 1986, Francis Carroll welcomed Pope John Paul II to Australia during the Pope's visit there.

Francis Carroll was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for "Service to Australian Society through the Roman Catholic Church".