Former Archbishop of Cincinnati, Monsignor Paul Francis Leibold, was born in Dayton, Ohio, to Frank Leibold and Philomena Kirchner. He was a member of Holy Trinity parish in Dayton, where he served as an altar boy and attended school. After graduating from Chaminade High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton in 1936. He continued his studies at St. Gregory and at Mount St. Mary's of the West Seminaries in Cincinnati, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1940.
While serving as pastor of St. Louis parish in Cincinnati, Father Leibold worked in the Archdiocese Chancery. He served as assistant chancellor and then chancellor under Archbishop Alter until 1966. Aged 43, Leibold was appointed Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Trebenna on June 17, 1958, from Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter assisted by Bishops Clarence George Issenmann and John Joseph Krol.
Following the retirement of Monsignor Henry Joseph Grimmelsman, Leibold was named his successor, as the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, on April 4, 1966.
On July 23, 1969, Leibold was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI, following the retirement of the named Archbishop Alter.
He passed away less than three years later at 57 years of age, after suffering suddenly from several massive strokes in the evening after presiding his last ceremony, that of speaker at Xavier University's graduation.
So respected and beloved was Archbishop Leibold that his funeral was broadcast across southern Ohio. There were 700 priests in the pews, and 44 priests concelebrated his funeral, including the Pope's Apostolic Delegate to the United States, and four cardinals. The pallbearers at his funeral were the young men he had ordained to the priesthood just a few weeks earlier.
While serving as pastor of St. Louis parish in Cincinnati, Father Leibold worked in the Archdiocese Chancery. He served as assistant chancellor and then chancellor under Archbishop Alter until 1966. Aged 43, Leibold was appointed Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Trebenna on June 17, 1958, from Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter assisted by Bishops Clarence George Issenmann and John Joseph Krol.
Following the retirement of Monsignor Henry Joseph Grimmelsman, Leibold was named his successor, as the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, on April 4, 1966.
On July 23, 1969, Leibold was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI, following the retirement of the named Archbishop Alter.
He passed away less than three years later at 57 years of age, after suffering suddenly from several massive strokes in the evening after presiding his last ceremony, that of speaker at Xavier University's graduation.
So respected and beloved was Archbishop Leibold that his funeral was broadcast across southern Ohio. There were 700 priests in the pews, and 44 priests concelebrated his funeral, including the Pope's Apostolic Delegate to the United States, and four cardinals. The pallbearers at his funeral were the young men he had ordained to the priesthood just a few weeks earlier.
Former Archbishop of Cincinnati, Monsignor Paul Francis Leibold, was born in Dayton, Ohio, to Frank Leibold and Philomena Kirchner. He was a member of Holy Trinity parish in Dayton, where he served as an altar boy and attended school. After graduating from Chaminade High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton in 1936. He continued his studies at St. Gregory and at Mount St. Mary's of the West Seminaries in Cincinnati, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1940.
While serving as pastor of St. Louis parish in Cincinnati, Father Leibold worked in the Archdiocese Chancery. He served as assistant chancellor and then chancellor under Archbishop Alter until 1966. Aged 43, Leibold was appointed Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Trebenna on June 17, 1958, from Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter assisted by Bishops Clarence George Issenmann and John Joseph Krol.
Following the retirement of Monsignor Henry Joseph Grimmelsman, Leibold was named his successor, as the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, on April 4, 1966.
On July 23, 1969, Leibold was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI, following the retirement of the named Archbishop Alter.
He passed away less than three years later at 57 years of age, after suffering suddenly from several massive strokes in the evening after presiding his last ceremony, that of speaker at Xavier University's graduation.
So respected and beloved was Archbishop Leibold that his funeral was broadcast across southern Ohio. There were 700 priests in the pews, and 44 priests concelebrated his funeral, including the Pope's Apostolic Delegate to the United States, and four cardinals. The pallbearers at his funeral were the young men he had ordained to the priesthood just a few weeks earlier.
While serving as pastor of St. Louis parish in Cincinnati, Father Leibold worked in the Archdiocese Chancery. He served as assistant chancellor and then chancellor under Archbishop Alter until 1966. Aged 43, Leibold was appointed Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Trebenna on June 17, 1958, from Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter assisted by Bishops Clarence George Issenmann and John Joseph Krol.
Following the retirement of Monsignor Henry Joseph Grimmelsman, Leibold was named his successor, as the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, on April 4, 1966.
On July 23, 1969, Leibold was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI, following the retirement of the named Archbishop Alter.
He passed away less than three years later at 57 years of age, after suffering suddenly from several massive strokes in the evening after presiding his last ceremony, that of speaker at Xavier University's graduation.
So respected and beloved was Archbishop Leibold that his funeral was broadcast across southern Ohio. There were 700 priests in the pews, and 44 priests concelebrated his funeral, including the Pope's Apostolic Delegate to the United States, and four cardinals. The pallbearers at his funeral were the young men he had ordained to the priesthood just a few weeks earlier.
