Desiderius of Besançon

Desiderius of Besançon (in French Désiré) was bishop of Besançon, probably at the beginning of the 5th century. All that is certain is that he died and was buried at Lons-⁠le-⁠Saunier, near Besançon. His name stands in the old episcopal lists of the city between the tenth and twelfth places, in a series of holy bishops without historical documentation. Some scholars think he was in fact a saint venerated in the region, entered in the lists to fill gaps.

An old liturgical calendar of Franche-⁠Comté commemorates him on 27 July. He was unknown to Baronius's Roman Martyrology, but Pope Leo XIII confirmed his cult on 24 November 1900, and his name entered the new Roman Martyrology. He is a saint of the undivided Church, venerated in the West; the date is the Western one, new style.