 In 1784, Franklin, as ambassador to France, recommended Carroll to the papal nuncio in Paris as the head of the Catholic Church in America, and on June 9, 1784 Carroll was anointed "Superior of Missions in the United States of North America".On November 6, 1789 Carroll's authority was confirmed after being elected by the clergy as the first Bishop of Baltimore.Beginning in 1783, Carroll convened meetings of area clergy, mostly ex-Jesuits, at Sacred Heart Church in White Marsh, outside Annapolis, Maryland.