Geraldo Majella Agnelo (19 October 1933 – 26 August 2023) was a Brazilian prelate of the Catholic Church who was archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia from 1999 to 2011. He became a bishop in 1978 and served as bishop of Toledo from 1978 to 1982 and archbishop of Londrina from 1982 to 1991. He served in the Roman Curia as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 1991 to 1999.[1]
His Eminence Geraldo Majella Agnelo | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia Primate of Brazil | |
 Agnelo in 2006 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | São Salvador da Bahia |
| See | São Salvador da Bahia |
| Appointed | 13 January 1999 |
| Installed | 11 March 1999 |
| Term ended | 12 January 2011 |
| Predecessor | Lucas Moreira Neves |
| Successor | Murilo Sebastião Ramos Krieger |
| Other post(s) | Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova (2001–2023) |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 June 1957 by Antônio Maria Alves de Siqueira |
| Consecration | 6 August 1978 by Paulo Evaristo Arns |
| Created cardinal | 21 February 2001 by Pope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 October 1933 |
| Died | 26 August 2023 (aged 89) Londrina, Paraná, Brazil |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | University of Mogi das Cruzes Central Seminary of Ipiranga Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm |
| Motto | Caritas cum Fide |
| Coat of arms |  |
Agnelo was raised to the rank of cardinal in 2001.
Early life and ordination
editGeraldo Majella Agnelo was born in Juiz de Fora on 19 October 1933. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of São Paulo on 29 June 1957, and held a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome.[2]
Agnelo was director of the philosophical seminary, Aparecida. He was spiritual director and professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Ipiranga. He was professor of liturgical and sacramental theology at Pius XI Theological Institute, and rector of Our Lady of the Assumption Seminary.[3]
Bishop
editOn 5 May 1978, Agnelo was appointed the second Bishop of Toledo, Paraná, and was consecrated on 6 August. On 4 October 1982, he was promoted to Archbishop of Londrina. Agnelo was President of the Brazilian Bishops' Liturgical Commission. On 16 September 1991, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Agnelo was named Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on 13 January 1999.
Cardinal
edit| Styles of Geraldo Majella Agnelo | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | São Salvador da Bahia |
In May 1999 Agnelo was nominated Vice President of the General Conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM). He was Elected president of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops in May 2003, and was made Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova (St. Gregory the Great at Magliana Nuova) by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001.
Agnelo was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI,[4] and he was considered papabile at the time.[5]
Agnelo resigned as Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on 12 January 2011 and was succeeded by Murilo Sebastião Ramos Krieger.
Agnelo was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.[6] He was also a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.
Illness and death
editAgnelo suffered a stroke in December 2022 and was in poor health thereafter. By 25 August 2023 his condition had rapidly deteriorated and he was in intensive care. Agnelo died at dawn in Londrina on 26 August 2023. He was 89.[7]
Views
edit2005 conclave
editIn April 2005, he said that he was very happy at the selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope of the Catholic Church.[8]
Catholic-Lutheran dialogue
editAgnelo supported efforts to improve dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics.[9]
Abortion
editCardinal Agnelo expressed concern with Brazilian politicians over a plan to legalize abortion in the country.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Geraldo Majella Cardinal Agnelo". catholic-hierarchy.org.
- ^ "AGNELO Card. Geraldo Majella". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "AGNELO Card. Geraldo Majella". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "AGNELO Card. Geraldo Majella". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ Jones, Sam; Brown, Andrew; Sedghi, Ami; Chalabi, Mona; Dhaliwal, Ranjit (12 March 2013). "Today 115 cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to choose the next pope. Use our Pontifficator to pick your ideal candidate". theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "AGNELO Card. Geraldo Majella". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Aos 89 anos, morre o Cardel Dom Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Arcebispo Emérito de Salvador" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Je me suis incliné avec joie devant la volonté de Dieu Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Joint declaration with the Lutherans in Brazil
- ^ "Obispos de Brasil: Es contradictorio promover el aborto y los derechos humanos". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
External links
edit- "Agnelo Card. Geraldo Majella". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- Cardinal Agnelo bio