Francis Xavier Leray

Francis Xavier Leray (April 20, 1825 – September 23, 1887) was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Natchitoches in Louisiana (1877–1879) and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans (1883–1887).

Biography

Early life Leray was born on April 20, 1825, in Châteaugiron, Ille-et-Vilaine, in France to René and Marie (née Roncin) Leray. He entered the University of Rennes in Rennes, France, in 1833. While still a seminarian at the university, Leray was recruited in 1844 to go to the United States. Following his arrival there, Leray taught for several months at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He then entered St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, to complete his theological studies. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Leray as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Jackson, Mississippi. During the yellow fever epidemics of 1853 and 1855, Leray spent much of his time tending to the sick. He barely survived his own case of the disease. Leray managed to reduce this debt by at least half.

After the death of Archbishop Napoléon-Joseph Perché, Leray automatically succeeded him as the third archbishop of New Orleans on December 28, 1883. He received the pallium, a vestment worn by metropolitan bishops, from Cardinal James Gibbons in January 1884.

Leray attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland, in November 1884, and continued his efforts to relieve New Orleans of its immense debt for the rest of his tenure. An advocate of Catholic education, he increased the number of parochial schools from 36 to 70 during his administration as well.

Death In the hope of strengthening his failing health, Leray returned in 1887 to Châteaugiron in France. He died there on September 23, 1887, at age 62.