Francis Carroll

Francis Patrick Carroll (9 September 1930 – 14 March 2024) was an Australian archbishop, the fifth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canberra–Goulburn, serving between 1983 until his retirement in 2006. Prior to his election as archbishop, Carroll served as Bishop of Wagga Wagga between 1968 and 1983. Carroll served as president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference between 2000 and 2006. He died in Wagga Wagga on 14 March 2024, at the age of 93.

Early career Carroll was born in Ganmain, New South Wales, the second of seven children of Patrick and Rose Carroll. He was ordained a priest in 1954 in St Brendan's Church, Ganmain. After service in Griffith and Albury, Carroll was appointed to the role of Assistant Diocesan Inspector of Schools and became Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Wagga Wagga in 1965.

Popularly known as "Father Frank", he served the Church in Canberra for 23 years. The development of Catholic schools in the archdiocese is a significant part of his legacy,

He was also the first Australian bishop to call a diocesan synod since the Second Vatican Council. It was held in Canberra during 1989 with a subsequent synod in 2004. The synod's recommendations accepted by the archbishop were the formation of a commission for women, a commitment to resource and support the Catholic youth ministry team for a period of five years, the embracing of the concept of encouraging parishes to implement family-based sacramental programs and calling on parishes to consider the employment of pastoral associates possibly in conjunction with neighbouring parishes.

In 2001, 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.

As president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference he sought to find ways to meet the Church's challenge of a decline in priestly vocations, including considering married priests:

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

In August 2005, prior to attaining 75 years of age, Carroll submitted his resignation to Benedict XVI, which was accepted the following month, but he continued in the role until his replacement, Mark Coleridge, was appointed in June 2006. Bob Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia at the time, was in attendance as well. Carroll was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for "Service to Australian Society through the Roman Catholic Church".

In February 2006, as a result of a public appeal, a scholarship was established to help students attend the Canberra campus of the Australian Catholic University. The Francis Carroll Scholarship provides financial support to students who relocate from rural or regional areas of the Archdiocese of CanberraGoulburn or the Diocese of Wagga Wagga to undertake an Education course at the Canberra campus. In May 2006, Carroll was awarded the Doctor of the University (Univ.D), honoris causa, the highest honour from the Australian Catholic University. The award recognised Carroll's contribution to Catholic education.

Carroll College Broulee, a Catholic High School on the south coast of NSW, was named after Carroll. The school opened in 1995.