On 7 October 1585, Barbaro was appointed titular Archbishop of Tyre with the right of succession as Patriarch of Aquileia.

[5] In the same year Francesco asked Pope Clement VIII to appoint his younger brother Ermolao Barbaro as his coadjutor.

[2] Until that time the residence of the patriarchs had been on top of the hill, but as the Republic of Venice wanted to build a fortress there.

Statues of the previous Patriarchs were set up in the new building and Barbaro donated his personal library.

[3] He was buried in the church of Sant'Antonio Abate di Udine, along with his brother who succeeded him to lead the Patriarchate under the name of Ermolao Barbaro II.