Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Archbishop emeritus of São Paulo, Brazil, was born on 8 August 1934 in Montenegro, Brazil. He was ordained for the Franciscans on 3 August 1958 and holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Antonianum, Rome, and a specialization in ecumenism from the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland.

He taught philosophy at the Franciscan seminary in Garibaldi, at the major seminary of Viamão and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre. He was adviser for ecumenical affairs to the National Bishops' Conference of Brazil, Provincial of Rio Grande do Sul (1972-1975) and president of the Union of Latin American Conferences of Franciscans.

On 22 March 1975 he was nominated titular Bishop of Carcabia and Coadjutor Bishop of Santo André and received episcopal ordination on 25 May. He became Diocesan Bishop of the see on 29 December. 

On 29 May 1996 he was promoted to Archbishop of Fortaleza and was transferred to São Paulo on 15 April 1998.

From 31 October 2006 to 7 October 2010, he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

On 8th March, 2018, the Holy Father Francis appointed Card. Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., Member of the pre-Sinodal Council of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana (St. Anthony of Padua in Via Merulana).

Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., died on 4 July 2022.