Pope Francis made two episcopal appointments in Brazil, announced August 18, 2021, by the Vatican.

Resignation of bishop of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, presented by Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva, and has appointed Archbishop Moacir Silva, metropolitan of Ribeirão Preto, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the diocese of São José do Rio Preto.

Appointment of bishop of Penedo, Brazil

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Valdemir Ferreira dos Santos as bishop of the diocese of Penedo, Brazil, transferring him from the diocese of Amargosa.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Valdemir Ferreira dos Santos was born on 30 March 1960 in Nova Canaã, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista, in the State of Bahia.

He studied philosophy at the major seminary of the diocese of Teófilo Otoni and the Faculdades Adamantinenses Integradas of São Paulo and theology at the Pontifical Faculty Nossa Senhora da Assunção. He obtained a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum in Rome.

On 6 September 1987 he was ordained a priest for the metropolitan archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista, in which he held the following offices: coordinator of catechesis and vocational pastoral care; spiritual director of the Cursilhos de Cristandade Movement; professor in the Institute of Philosophy and in the Formation Centre for the Laity; parish priest; vice-rector and subsequently rector of the philosophy seminary; rector of the propedeutic seminary; director of the School for the Formation of Permanent Deacons; episcopal vicar; archdiocesan bursar; and member of the Presbyteral Council and of the College of Consultors. In addition, he has collaborated in the Coordination of Catechesis of the Northeast Regional 3 of the Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB).

On 17 March 2010, he was appointed bishop of Floriano and received episcopal ordination on the following 30 May. On 4 May 2016, he was transferred to the see of Amargosa.