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Leonardo Ulrich Steiner

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Leonardo Ulrich Steiner

Archbishop of Manaus
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed27 November 2019
Installed31 January 2020
PredecessorSérgio Eduardo Castriani
Other post(s)Cardinal Priest of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia (2022–present)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination21 January 1978
by Paulo Evaristo Arns
Consecration16 April 2005
by Paulo Evaristo Arns
Created cardinal27 August 2022
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal priest
Personal details
Born (1950-11-06) 6 November 1950 (age 74)
Forquilhinha, Brazil
MottoVerbum caro factum
Coat of armsLeonardo Ulrich Steiner's coat of arms
Styles of
Leonardo Ulrich Steiner
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Leonardo Ulrich Steiner OFM (born 6 November 1950) is a Brazilian Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Manaus since 2020. A member of the Order of Friars Minor since 1976 and a bishop since 2005, he was an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Brasília from 2011 to 2019.

On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made Steiner a cardinal, the first from the Amazon region.[1]

Biography

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Leonardo Ulrich Steiner was born on 6 November 1950 in Forquilhinha, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He took his vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor on 2 August 1976 and was ordained a priest on 21 January 1978[2] by his cousin Cardinal Arns.[3]

He studied philosophy and theology at the Franciscans of Petrópolis. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and pedagogy at the Salesian Faculty of Lorraine. At the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum in Rome he obtained a licentiate and a doctorate in philosophy. After a period as assistant pastor and parish priest, he was seminary formator until 1986 and novice master from 1986 to 1995.[2]

From 1995 to 2003 he was Professor of Philosophy and Secretary of the Antonianum. Returning to Brazil in 2003, he was assistant pastor of the Bom Jesus Parish in the Archdiocese of Curitiba, as well as a lecturer at the Bom Jesus Faculty of Philosophy there.[2]

On 2 February 2005, Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop prelate of São Félix.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 16 April from Cardinal Arns.[3]

On 21 September 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named him titular bishop of Tisiduo and auxiliary bishop of Brasilia.[5]

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

In the face of the Bolsonaro government's Covid denialism, Steiner avoided verbal confrontation and preferred to let the Church's actions serve as a response. He said: "Such ideological issues are very complex. But the church can't cease to manifest its positions. At the same time, we show through our work what we think that real solidarity is.... [Deniers] have lost sensibility to their neighbor. But the work that Catholics have been doing in Manaus, taking solace and hope to the homeless, immigrants and the poor, is fantastic. That's why our voice will keep being heard."[6]

On 27 November 2019, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Manaus.[2] He was installed there on 31 January 2020.

In April 2022 Steiner was named president of the Special Episcopal Commission for the Amazon. He is also the vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon Region (CEAMA).[7]

On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal priest, assigning him the title of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia.[8]

Personal life

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Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, Archbishop of São Paulo, was Steiner's cousin.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Maisonnave, Fabiano; Winfield, Nicole (1 July 2022). "Brazilian archbishop set to make history as first cardinal from Amazon rainforest". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.11.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Presidência da CNBB saúda os novos cardeais do Brasil". Vatican News (in Portuguese). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 02.02.2005" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2 February 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.09.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ Campos Lima, Eduardo (1 April 2021). "'A kind of brainwashing': Brazil's Catholic Church fights COVID-19 denialism". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b Campos Lima, Eduardo (30 May 2022). "New Brazilian cardinal highlights Pope's concern for Amazon region". Crux. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali" [Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals]. The Holy See (in Italian). Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Manaus
31 January 2020 – present
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded byas Vice President of Brazil Brazilian order of precedence
3rd in line
as Brazilian cardinal
Followed by
Foreign ambassadors