Early life

Francis Gossman was born on April 1, 1930, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Frank and Genevieve (née Steadman) Gossman. He attended St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland. He then entered St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in 1952. Gossman then furthered his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Priesthood

In Rome, Gossman was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Martin O’Connor on December 17, 1955. He earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1956. Upon his return to the United States, Gossman began his graduate studies at the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in Washington, D.C., receiving a Doctor of Canon Law degree in June 1959.

Gossman then served as vice-chancellor for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and assistant pastor at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore. In 1968, he was named administrator of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Gossman was raised by the Vatican to the rank of monsignor on June 27, 1965.

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore

On July 15, 1968, Gossman was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and titular bishop of Aguntum by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on September 11, 1968, from Cardinal Lawrence Sheehan, with Bishops Thomas Murphy and Thomas Mardaga serving as co-consecrators. As an auxiliary bishop, he served as vicar for inner city Baltimore.

Bishop of Raleigh

Gossman was named the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh on April 8, 1975. After a 31-year-long tenure and reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, his resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on June 8, 2006.

Francis Gossman died in Raleigh from a long-term illness on August 12, 2013, at age 83.^[3]