Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Fortaleza, Brazil

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Fortaleza, Brazil, presented by Archbishop José Antônio Aparecido Tosi Marques.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão, O.S.B., as metropolitan archbishop of Fortaleza, Brazil, transferring him from the diocese of Petrópolis.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão was born on 3 November 1964 in Aracaju, in the archdiocese of the same name, in the State of Sergipe. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the Escola Teológica da Congregação Beneditina do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro-RJ, and was awarded a doctorate in cultural anthropology from the Open Universiteit van Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

On 7 December 1986 he gave his religious vows in the Benedictine Order, and on 21 March 1993, he received priestly ordination.

He has held the following offices: bursar, master of novices and prior of the Benedictine Monastery of Bahia; director of the Colégio São Bento in Salvador-BA; professor and director of the São Bento Faculty in Salvador-BA; and member of the Economic Board of the archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia.

On 7 June 2006 he was appointed titular bishop of Fico and auxiliary of São Salvador da Bahia, and received episcopal ordination on 29 July 2006. On 10 October 2012 he was transferred to Petrópolis as bishop.

Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil he has served as secretary of the Regional Nordeste 3 (2007-2012), head of Pastoral Care of Culture (2011-2022), chair of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization Campaign (2020-2021), member of the Episcopal Commission for Cultural Heritage of the Church (2010-2022), and member of the Commission for the Brazil-Holy See Accord (since 2011).

He is currently vice-president of the Regional Leste 1 and chair of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for Culture and Education of the same Bishops’ Conference.