James Darcy Cardinal Freeman KBE

Cardinal Priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace at Ostia
6th Archbishop of Sydney (1971-83)

James Darcy Freeman was born in Sydney 19 November 1907 to Robert Freeman and Margaret Smith.
He was educated at the Sisters of Charity, Elizabeth Bay, and Christian Brothers’ School, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. He attended Seminary at St Columba’s, Springwood and St Patrick’s, Manly.

He was ordained on 13 July 1930 by Archbishop Bartolomeo Cattaneo. He served as an Assistant Priest at Grafton & Murwillumbah (Lismore Diocese); Strathfield, Mosman and St Mary’s Cathedral.
He was the Private Secretary to the Cardinal Archbishop, and Chaplain to the Christian Brothers’, Strathfield. He also served as Administrator of Haymarket Parish, and Parish Priest of Stanmore.

Elected Bishop of Hermopolis In Partibus Infidelium and auxiliary of Sydney on 9 December 1956. He was consecrated on 24 January 1957 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney by Cardinal Gilroy. Translated to Armidale as Bishop 18 October 1969. He was promoted to Archbishop of Sydney on 9 July 1971.

He was made Cardinal Priest of the Title of Our Lady Queen of Peace of Ostia on 5 March 1973.
Created Knight Commander of the British Empire 1977.
Resigned on 12 February 1983.
Cardinal Freeman died on 16 March 1991.

The Previous Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Sydney

• John Polding OSB, Vicar Apostolic of New Holland 1834-1842; Archbishop of Sydney 1842-1877.
• Roger Bede Vaughan OSB, 1877-1883.
• Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran, 1884-1911.
• Michael Kelly, 1911-1940.
• Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy, 1940-1971. Co-adjutor Bishop 1937-1940; Archbishop 1940-46; Cardinal 1946-1971.
• James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1971-1983. Auxiliary Bishop Sydney 1957-1969. Bishop Armidale 1969-1971.
• Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1983-2001.

The Predecessor Auxiliary and Co-adjutor Archbishops
of the Archdiocese of Sydney

1. Charles Henry Davis OSB, 1848-1854. Also Titular Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.
2. Joseph Higgins, 1889. (Appointed Bishop of Rockhampton 1889).
3. Michael Sheehan, Co-adjutor Archbishop 1922-1937.
4. Eris Norman Michael O'Brien, 1948-1953. (Appointed Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn 1953.)
5. Patrick Francis Lyons, 1950-1956. (Appointed Co-adjutor Bishop Sale 1956. Bishop 1957-1967.)
6. James Patrick Carroll, 1954-1965. Retired 1984. Died 1995.
7. James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1957-1969
8. Thomas William Muldoon, 1960-1986.
9. Edward Francis Kelly MSC, 1969-1975. (Appointed Bishop of Toowoomba 1975.)
10. Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1973-1978. (Appointed Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn, 1978-1983.)
11. Patrick Laurence Murphy, 1977-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Broken Bay 1986. Retired)
12. Bede Vincent Heather, 1979-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Parramatta 1986. Retired)
13. John Edward Heaps, 1981-1992. Retired 1992. Died 2004.
14. Peter William Ingham, 1993-2001. (Appointed Bishop of Wollongong 2001.)
15. Geoffrey James Robinson, 1984-2004. Retired.
16. David Cremin, 1974-2005. Retired.

See also:

• Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
• Current Auxiliary Bishops of Sydney
  • Bishop Julian Porteous
  • Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
• Significant Early Pioneers in the Church in Sydney