Andrew Francis (bishop)

Andrew Francis (born 29 November 1946) is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Adah, Pakistan on 29 November 1946. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi. On 10 January 1972, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. He has been rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore in 1986 and later Parish Priest of St. Anthony's Church, Lahore, until his ordination as bishop in February 2000.^[2]

On 3 December 1999 he was appointed Bishop of Multan in Pakistan. He was ordained as bishop on 26 February 2000.^{[3] [4] [5]}

It was later revealed that a civil court had issued a stay order on the ordination of the Bishop-elect, but he was ordained before the court order arrived. Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, and Bishop Anthony Lobo of Islamabad-Rawalpindi presided at the ordination of Bishop Francis at a private chapel of the Lahore archbishop's house.^[6]

Bishop Francis is the chairman of the National Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism, National Commission of Sacred Liturgy and National Commission of Catholic Urdu Literature. Also he is a member of Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue - Rome, International Commission for English in the Liturgy, USA and the Minority Committee of the Government of Pakistan.^[7]

On June 13, 2014 Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Andrew Francis in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, and appointed Rev. Benny Travas of Karachi as Apostolic Administrator.^[8]

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