Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, O.F.M., Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil), was born on 6 November 1950 in Forquilhinha, in the State of Santa Catarina, in the Diocese of Criciúma.

He made his religious profession in the Order of Friars Minor on 2 August 1976 and was ordained a priest on 21 January 1978. He studied philosophy and theology with the Franciscans in Petrópolis. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and pedagogy from the Salesian Faculty of Lorraine. He received his licentiate and doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Saint Anthony in Rome. After his studies and a period as assistant parish priest and parish priest, he served as a formator at the seminary until 1986 and master of novices from 1986 to 1995.

From 1995 to 2003, he was professor of philosophy and Secretary of the Antonianum. Upon his return to Brazil in 2003, he was Vicar of Bom Jesus Parish in the Archdiocese of Curitiba, and lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy at Bom Jesus.

On 2 February 2005, he was appointed Bishop Prelate of São Félix and was consecrated Bishop on the following 16 April. On 21 September 2011 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Tisiduo and Auxiliary Bishop of Brasilia.

From May 2011 to May 2019 he was Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Brazil.

On 27 November 2019 the Holy Father Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil).

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 27 August 2022, and was assigned the titular church San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia.

Member of:

• Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.