François became Archbishop of Rouen in 1604, though he did not take up residence. He participated in the papal conclaves of 1605. In 1606-07 he played a decisive role in negotiating a rapprochement between the Papacy and Venice, at the time of the Venetian Interdict. After the murder of Henry IV in 1610 he lost influence at the court of the Regent, Marie de' Medici. He died at Avignon, aged 53, while travelling to Rome.