William Benedict Friend

Who is William Benedict Friend?

William Benedict Friend is the retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, in Louisiana, and its first bishop.

He was ordained on 7 May 1959 as a priest of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama. On 31 August 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, and that same day was named bishop of the titular see of Pomaria. He was consecrated Titular Bishop of Pomaria on 30 October 1979. On 17 November 1982, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.

The Diocese of Shreveport was created on 16 June 1986, from territory carved from the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, which itself was renamed Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana. On the same day, Bishop Friend was appointed the first Bishop of Shreveport and was installed as bishop on 30 July 1986.

On 22 October 2006, Bishop 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 20 December 2006. Bishop Friend will remain at the helm of the diocese as apostolic administrator until a new Bishop is appointed. On 1 April 2008 Pope Benedict named Michael Duca as the new bishop of the diocese ending Friend's duties as apostolic administrator.