Michael Kpakala Francis

On 28 October 1976, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular bishop of Ausuccura and Apostolic Vicar of Monrovia.

[2] On 19 December 1981, Pope John Paul appointed him the first Archbishop of the newly created Archdiocese of Monrovia.

[4] Andrew J. Karnley was named apostolic administrator to help manage the affairs of the Archdiocese.

This council was organized to defend human rights and civil liberty in the war-ravaged country under then-President Charles Taylor.

[4] Francis was a recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in 1999, given each year to an individual whose courageous activism is at the heart of the human rights movement and in the spirit of Robert F. Kennedy's vision and legacy.