William Benedict Friend

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Benedict Friend
Bishop of Shreveport
titular bishop of Pomaria
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseDiocese of Shreveport
In office1982–2006
PredecessorNone
SuccessorMichael Duca
Previous postsBishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1979 to 1982)
Auxiliary Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1982 to 1986)
Orders
OrdinationMay 7, 1959
by James Gibbons
ConsecrationOctober 30, 1979
by Thomas Joseph Toolen
Personal details
Born(1931-10-22)October 22, 1931
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2015(2015-04-02) (aged 83)
Coral Springs, Florida
MottoLive in the spirit
Styles of
William Benedict Friend
Reference styleHis Excellency
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor

William Benedict Friend (October 22, 1931 – April 2, 2015) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Shreveport in Louisiana from 1986 to 2006. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and then bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport from 1979 to 1986.

Biography

Early life

William Friend was born on October 22, 1931, in Miami, Florida. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the immaculate Conception in Mobile, Alabama, by Cardinal James Gibbons on May 7, 1959, for the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport

On August 31, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Friend as an auxiliary bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport and titular bishop of Pomaria. He was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas Joseph Toolen on October 30, 1979 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. [1]

On November 17, 1982, John Paul II appointed him as bishop of the same diocese.[1]

Bishop of Shreveport

John Paul II erected the Diocese of Shreveport on June 16, 1986, and appointed Friend as its first bishop. He was installed as bishop on July 30, 1986.[1]

Retirement and legacy

On October 22, 2006, Friend sent the mandatory letter to Pope Benedict XVI resigning the diocese as he had reached the age of 75. His resignation was accepted on December 20, 2006. Friend ran the diocese as apostolic administrator until the pope named a new bishop.[1]

On April 1, 2008, Benedict XVI named Reverend Michael Duca as the new bishop of the diocese, ending Friend's duties as apostolic administrator. On April 2, 2015, William Friend died at his home in Coral Springs, Florida.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bishop William Benedict Friend [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "Death of Bishop Emeritus William B. Friend". Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2015.

Episcopal succession

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