João Bráz de Aviz
Encyclopedia
João Bráz de Aviz is the current prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 4 January 2011.
Bráz de Aviz was born in Mafra, Diocese of Joinville, SC in 1947. He has four brothers and three sisters – the youngest sister, has Down’s syndrome. After attending his philosophical studies at the Major Seminary "Rainha dos Apostolos" in Curitiba and the Faculty of Palmas, PR, has completed his theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University
, obtaining a license, and at the Pontifical Lateran University
, where he graduated in 1992 in dogmatic theology
.
He was ordained priest 26 November 1972 and the diocese of Apucarana
, played his ministry as a parish priest in several parishes, as Rector of the Major Seminary Apucarana and Londrina, and as professor of dogmatic theology at the Theological Institute Paul VI in Londrina. He was also member of the Council of Priests
and the College of Consultors and General Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Apucarana. As a young priest Bráz de Aviz was once on his way to a village to say Mass when he stumbled upon an armored car robbery. He was shot during the crossfire, with bullets perforating his lungs and intestines and one eye. Although he survived and surgeons were able to save his eye, he still carries fragments of those bullets in his body.
On 6 April 1994 he was appointed to the titular bishop
of Flenucleta as auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Vitória, and received episcopal ordination on 31 May of that year. He was transferred as ordinary
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponta Grossa
on 12 August 1998 by Pope John Paul II
. He was promoted to archbishop of Maringá
on 17 July 2002 where he served until he was appointed archbishop of Brasília
on 28 January 2004. In May 2010 he organised the XVI National Eucharistic Congress, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the city.
On 4 January 2011 Archbishop Braz de Aviz, who is not a member of a religious order, was appointed to his current post. Since 1973, prelates ordained for religious orders and for dioceses have alternated in holding the post of prefect of the congregation overseeing religious in the Catholic Church. In the past 100 years, 11 of the 18 prefects did not belong to a religious order.
Archbishop Bráz de Aviz becomes the fourth Brazilian to head a Vatican department, after Cardinal Agnelo Rossi, who led the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
from 1970 to 1984, Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves
, who headed the Congregation for Bishops
from 1998 to 2000; and Cardinal Cláudio Hummes
, who was once the Archbishop of São Paulo and who headed the Congregation for Clergy from 2006 to 2010.
In February 2011 Archbishop Braz de Aviz said he almost abandoned the seminary and the Catholic Church because of the ideological excesses that emerged in the early years of liberation theology
. He said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano
that "Personally, I lived with a lot of anguish during the years of the birth of liberation theology," Archbishop Braz de Aviz said he appreciated that liberation theology promoted the preferential option for the poor, which represents "the church's sincere and responsible concern for the vast phenomenon of social exclusion." He said consecrated men and women need to explore more deeply the mystery of God to strengthen their relationships with others.
In July 2011 he referred to a breakdown in trust between the Vatican and many religious orders because of "some positions taken previously." The reference is to his predecessor, Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé, who repeatedly decried a “crisis” in religious life following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), related in part to what Rodé regarded as excessively liberalizing currents in some communities.
Without denying that there are problems, Bráz said, his main aim is to “rebuild trust” by approaching issues in a new way – “without preemptive condemnations,” he said, “and by listening to people’s concerns.”
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 4 January 2011.
Bráz de Aviz was born in Mafra, Diocese of Joinville, SC in 1947. He has four brothers and three sisters – the youngest sister, has Down’s syndrome. After attending his philosophical studies at the Major Seminary "Rainha dos Apostolos" in Curitiba and the Faculty of Palmas, PR, has completed his theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, obtaining a license, and at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
, where he graduated in 1992 in dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc...
.
He was ordained priest 26 November 1972 and the diocese of Apucarana
Roman Catholic Diocese of Apucarana
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Apucarana is a diocese located in the city of Apucarana in the Ecclesiastical province of Londrina in Brazil.-History:...
, played his ministry as a parish priest in several parishes, as Rector of the Major Seminary Apucarana and Londrina, and as professor of dogmatic theology at the Theological Institute Paul VI in Londrina. He was also member of the Council of Priests
Presbyteral Council
The Presbyteral Council or Council of Priests is a group of priests chosen to assist the local ordinary in an advisory capacity in the governance of the diocese. Canon 495 of the Code of Canon Law lays down that every diocese must have such a council...
and the College of Consultors and General Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Apucarana. As a young priest Bráz de Aviz was once on his way to a village to say Mass when he stumbled upon an armored car robbery. He was shot during the crossfire, with bullets perforating his lungs and intestines and one eye. Although he survived and surgeons were able to save his eye, he still carries fragments of those bullets in his body.
On 6 April 1994 he was appointed to the titular bishop
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of Flenucleta as auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Vitória, and received episcopal ordination on 31 May of that year. He was transferred as ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponta Grossa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponta Grossa
The Diocese of Ponta Grossa is a territorial division of the Catholic Church in the state of Paraná, Brazil. It was created in 1926 by Papal bull Quum in Dies Numerus of Pope Pius XI, with bula Quum in numerus. It is a suffragan diocese of Archdiocese of Curitiba. The fifth and current Diocesan...
on 12 August 1998 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He was promoted to archbishop of Maringá
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maringá
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maringá is an archdiocese located in the city of Maringá in Brazil.-History:* February 1, 1956: Established as Diocese of Maringá from the Diocese of Jacarezinho...
on 17 July 2002 where he served until he was appointed archbishop of Brasília
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brasília
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brasília is an archdiocese located in the city of Brasília in Brazil.-History:* January 16, 1960: Established as Diocese of Brasília from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goiânia...
on 28 January 2004. In May 2010 he organised the XVI National Eucharistic Congress, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the city.
On 4 January 2011 Archbishop Braz de Aviz, who is not a member of a religious order, was appointed to his current post. Since 1973, prelates ordained for religious orders and for dioceses have alternated in holding the post of prefect of the congregation overseeing religious in the Catholic Church. In the past 100 years, 11 of the 18 prefects did not belong to a religious order.
Archbishop Bráz de Aviz becomes the fourth Brazilian to head a Vatican department, after Cardinal Agnelo Rossi, who led the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
from 1970 to 1984, Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves
Lucas Moreira Neves
Lucas Moreira Neves O.P. was a Brazilian Cardinal Bishop and Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.Neves was born in São João del Rei, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1950...
, who headed the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
from 1998 to 2000; and Cardinal Cláudio Hummes
Cláudio Hummes
Cláudio Hummes, OFM is a Brazilian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman Curia , having previously served as Archbishop of Fortaleza from 1996 to 1998 and archbishop of São Paulo from 1998 to 2006...
, who was once the Archbishop of São Paulo and who headed the Congregation for Clergy from 2006 to 2010.
In February 2011 Archbishop Braz de Aviz said he almost abandoned the seminary and the Catholic Church because of the ideological excesses that emerged in the early years of liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
. He said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
that "Personally, I lived with a lot of anguish during the years of the birth of liberation theology," Archbishop Braz de Aviz said he appreciated that liberation theology promoted the preferential option for the poor, which represents "the church's sincere and responsible concern for the vast phenomenon of social exclusion." He said consecrated men and women need to explore more deeply the mystery of God to strengthen their relationships with others.
In July 2011 he referred to a breakdown in trust between the Vatican and many religious orders because of "some positions taken previously." The reference is to his predecessor, Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé, who repeatedly decried a “crisis” in religious life following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), related in part to what Rodé regarded as excessively liberalizing currents in some communities.
Without denying that there are problems, Bráz said, his main aim is to “rebuild trust” by approaching issues in a new way – “without preemptive condemnations,” he said, “and by listening to people’s concerns.”