Cardinal Jaime Spengler, O.F.M., Archbishop of Porto Alegre,  Brazil, was born on 6 September 1960, in Blumenau, in the State of Santa Catarina, in the diocese of the same name. He carried out his Franciscan postulancy in Guaratinguetá (1981) and novitiate in Rodeio (1982); he gave his solemn vows in 1985 and was ordained a priest on 17 November 1990. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the São Boaventura Philosophical Institute in Campo Largo, and in theology first at the Franciscan Theological Institute in Petrópolis (1986-1987) and then at the Theological Institute of Jerusalem (1987-1990), where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scripture. He was subsequently awarded a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical University “Antonianum” in Rome (1995-1998). He has held the following roles: teacher in the Franciscan novitiate in Rodeio, master of postulants (1990), teacher in the postulancy and parish vicar in Guaratinguetá (1991-1994), professor and vice rector of the São Boaventura Institute of Philosophy in Campo Largo (2000-2003), religious assistant of the Federação Brasileira das Irmãs Concepcionistas (2001-2002); local superior and parish vicar of Senhor Bom Jesus in the metropolitan archdiocese of Curitiba (2004-2006), professor of philosophy at the São Boaventura Faculty in Curitiba (2000-2003), vice president of the Franciscan Association of Ensino Senhor Bom Jesus in Campo Largo and guardian of the local convent. On 10 November 2010 he was appointed titular bishop of Patara and auxiliary of Porto Alegre. He received episcopal ordination on 5 February 2011. On 18 September 2013 he was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Porto Alegre.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 7 December 2024 of the Title of S. Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova.