Renowned Australian Biblical scholar Fr Francis Moloney SDB has died in his home city of Melbourne aged 85.

“The death of Father Francis Moloney SDB brings to a close a life of remarkable commitment, fidelity and scholarship,” said Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.

“A member of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco, Father Moloney understood instinctively the wisdom of St John Bosco’s famous saying that ‘it is not enough for young people to be loved; they have to know that they are loved’.

“In his dealings with people of all ages, including the young, Father Moloney displayed a remarkable gift for friendship: he loved sincerely and generously and was deeply loved and admired in return.

“A world-renowned Johannine scholar, Fr Moloney’s whole life was dedicated to his belief that ‘this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’ (John 17:3).

Fr Moloney joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1970.

He studied at the Salesian Pontifical University and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, as well as the University of Oxford, and taught in Europe, Israel, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Appointed in 1984 to the International Theological Commission by Pope John Paul II, he remained on the advisory body for 18 years.

Made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992 for his services to religion, he became the Foundation Professor of Theology at Australian Catholic University in 1994.

Fr Moloney served and led his beloved Order as the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco (2006-2011).

He was the author of major pieces of internationally acclaimed research into the Gospels of John, Mark, and the Book of Revelation.

His last academic posting was as a Senior Professorial Fellow at the Catholic Theological College in Melbourne, part of the ecumenical University of Divinity.

“Having spent his life making the Christ of the gospels known may he now enter into the fullness of eternal life and see the Lord, whom he served so well, face to face,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

(Image: Fr Frank Moloney SDB, sourced from Wipf and Stock publishers website)