Pope Francis made several episcopal appointments in Brazil. They were announced on October 27, 2021, by the Vatican.
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Camaçari
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Camaçari, Brazil, presented by Bishop João Carlos Petrini.
The Pope has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Camaçari, Brazil, the Reverend Dirceu de Oliveira Medeiros, of the clergy of the diocese of São João del Rei, until now adjunct under-secretary-general of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.
Msgr. Dirceu de Oliveira Medeiros was born on 28 March 1973 in Barroso, diocese of São João del Rei, Minas Gerais. He studied philosophy (1995-1997) and theology (1998-2001) at the Instituto Teológico Arquidiocesano Santo Antônio in Juiz de Fora.
He was ordained a priest on 15 December 2001 and incardinated in the diocese of São João del Rei, where he held the following positions: head of the Fraternity Campaign; parish vicar of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in São João del Rei-MG (2002-2004); parish priest of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Prados-MG (2004-2019); diocesan coordinator of the Cultural Heritage Commission of the Church and the Cultural Heritage Commission of the Leste Regional 2 of the NCBB; member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors; vicar forane; vicar general (2007-2018); and diocesan administrator (2018). In addition, he has served as professor in the theology course for the laity in São João del Rei and in Juiz de Fora.
From 2019 to date, he has held the position of deputy under-secretary-general of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil in Brasília-DF.
Appointment of bishop of Colatina, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Colatina, Brazil, the Reverend Lauro Sérgio Versiani Barbosa, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana, until now parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Viçosa-MG.
Msgr. Lauro Sérgio Versiani Barbosa was born on 29 April 1959 in Ouro Preto, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana, Minas Gerais. He carried out his studies in history and philosophy in the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. He studied theology in the Jesuit Faculty in Belo Horizonte-MG (1991-1994) and was awarded a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1999-2001).
On 2 September 1995 he was ordained a priest and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana, where he held the following positions: director of studies in the Institute of Philosophy (1994-1998) and Theology (2002-2005) of the São José Seminary; parish vicar of the Sagrado Coração de Jesus in Mariana-MG (1995-1999/2001-2012); director of the São Lourenço Diaconal School (2005-2014); rector of the archdiocesan seminary of Mariana (2006-2014); assessor of the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity (2002-2012); president of the Organization of Seminaries and Institutes of Brazil of the Leste Regional 2 of the NCBB (2007-2011); episcopal vicar of the Leste Pastoral Region (2016-2019); member of the college of consultors, the presbyteral council, the archdiocesan council of pastoral ministry, the archdiocesan council of economic affairs and the curatorial council of the Marianense Education Foundation. In addition, from 2014 to 2018 he was postulator of the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida.
To date he has served as parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Viçosa-MG (since 2014), professor of philosophy and theology in the archdiocesan seminary (since 1993), director of the Cultural and Educational Foundation of the archdiocese of Mariana (since 2017) and member of the Metropolitan Chapter.
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, the Reverend Joel Maria dos Santos, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now parish priest of Santíssima Trindade in Belo Horizonte and episcopal vicar for pastoral action, assigning him the titular see of Tene.
Msgr. Joel Maria dos Santos was born on 8 February 1966 in Belo Horizonte, in the metropolitan archdiocese of the same name. He studied philosophy (1987-1989) and theology (1990-1994) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, where he also attended a course in psychology (2000-2004).
He was ordained a priest on 14 May 1994 and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, where he held the following positions: parish vicar of Maria Mãe dos Pobres (1994-1995); parish administrator of Santa Clara e São Francisco (1994-1995); parish vicar of São Vicente de Paulo (1995-1996); parish priest of Santa Teresinha (1996-2008); parish vicar of Santíssima Trindade (2008-2013); coordinator of the archdiocesan seminary (2010-2013); parish priest of Bom Pastor (2012-2014) and Santo Cura d’Ars (2014-2018); assessor for the permanent diaconate (2017-2021).
From 2016 until now he has been episcopal vicar for pastoral action and since 2018 parish priest of Santíssima Trindade in Belo Horizonte-MG.
