Pope Names Two Archbishops in Brazil

São Luís do Maranhão and Santa Maria

Appointments in Latin America
© Vatican Media

Pope Francis has appointed two new metropolitan archbishops in Brazil, the Vatican announced June 2, 2021.

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão, Brazil

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão, Brazil, presented by Archbishop José Belisário da Silva, O.F.M.

The Pope has appointed Bishop Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira as metropolitan archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil), transferring him from the diocese of Crato.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira was born on 29 July 1956 in Boim, Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santarém, in the State of Pará. He studied philosophy and theology at the Instituto de Pastoral Regional (IPAR) in Belém-PA (1978-1983). He obtained a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Teresianum Pontifical Theological Faculty in Rome (1990-1992).

On 27 July 1985 he was ordained to the priesthood and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Santarém, where he held the following positions: parish vicar of Santo Antônio de Pádua in Mojuí dos Campos-PA; rector of the São Pio X minor seminary; diocesan pastoral coordinator; parish priest of Nossa Senhora Aparecida and Nossa Senhora de Fátima in Santarém-PA; and vicar general. In addition, he was vice-rector of the São Gaspar interdiocesan major seminary in Belém-PA, parish vicar of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Belém-PA and supervisor for the laity of the Norte 2 Regional of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

On 3 August 2005, he was appointed as bishop of Imperatriz and received episcopal ordination the following 28 October. On 18 May 2016, he was appointed as coadjutor bishop of Crato, becoming ordinary the following 28 December.


 

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Santa Maria, Brazil

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Santa Maria, Brazil, presented by Archbishop Hélio Adelar Rubert.

The Pope has appointed Bishop Leomar Antônio Brustolin as metropolitan archbishop of Santa Maria, Brazil, transferring him from the titular see of Tigava and from the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Porto Alegre.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Leomar Antônio Brustolin was born on 15 August 1967 in Caxias do Sul, in the diocese of the same name, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. He studied philosophy at the Universidade de Caxias do Sul-RS (1984-1986) and theology at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre-RS (1987-1990). He continued his theological studies with a licentiate from the Faculdade Jesuíta (FAJE) in Belo Horizonte-MG (1991-1993) and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1997-2000).

On 20 December 1992 he was ordained a priest and incardinated in the diocese of Caxias do Sul, where he served as parish vicar and then parish priest of the Cathedral, director of the Theology Centre, and director of the theology course for the laity. He was also professor and coordinator of the licentiate course in Theology at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul.

On 7 January 2015, he was appointed as titular bishop of Tigava and auxiliary of Porto Alegre, receiving episcopal ordination on the following 25 March. Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, he is a member of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith.