Cardinal Jaime Spengler, O.F.M., Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil, was born on 6 September 1960, in Blumenau, in the Diocese of Santa Catarina. He entered as a Franciscan postulant in Guaratinguetá (1981) and began his novitiate in Rodeio (1982). He made his solemn profession in 1985 and was ordained a priest on 17 November 1990.

He studied philosophy at the Saint Bonaventure Philosophical Institute in Campo Largo, and theology 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 then obtained a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Saint Anthony in Rome (1995-1998).

He has held the following positions: professor of the Franciscan novitiate in Rodeio, master of postulants (1990), professor of postulants 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 Saint Bonaventure 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 Bishop of Porto Alegre.  He was consecrated bishop on 5 February 2011. On 18 September 2013 he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre.

He was elected President of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil for the quadrennial 2023-2027 and President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 7 December 2024, and was assigned the titular church San Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova.

Member of:

·      Dicasteries: for the Doctrine of the Faith; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.