Abraha Francois

François Abraha (2 April 1918 – 26 March 2000) was an Ethiopian bishop of the Ethiopian Catholic Church who served as the bishop of the Eparchy of Asmara from 1961 to 1984.

Biography He was born on 2 April 1918 in Asmara during the Italian colonization of Eritrea. He received his episcopal consecration on 8 October from Asrate Mariam Yemmeru, Archbishop of Addis Ababa. and other synods in Rome. He was a founding member of the Ethiopian Episcopal Conference, the East African Countries Bishops Conference, and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. He made the restoration of the Ge'ez Liturgy, free of the influence of Roman Rite, a particular focus of his episcopate.

Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation on 17 July 1984, when he was 66. For the last decade of his life he required regular medical attention. He died in Asmara on 26 March 2000.

He was known for his ecumenical openness and for his activism against the Derg in Ethiopia. He repeatedly protested against Soviet involvement in the Eritrean struggle for independence.