Paulo Evaristo Arns

Origin

Forquilhinha, SC

Also known as

Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns

Years active

1945–2016

Genres

catholicism, liberation theology

Biography

Paulo Evaristo Arns was a prominent Brazilian Catholic prelate, born in Santa Catarina in 1921. He entered the Franciscan Order in 1943 and was ordained a priest in 1945. Arns pursued an academic career for two decades before being appointed auxiliary bishop of São Paulo in 1966, eventually becoming the Archbishop of São Paulo in 1970. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1973.

Throughout his tenure, Arns was a staunch defender of human rights and a vocal opponent of Brazil's military dictatorship, which ruled from 1964 to 1985. He actively denounced torture and other abuses, supported workers' rights, and was involved in clandestine projects to document the regime's crimes, most notably the "Brasil: Nunca Mais" (Brazil: Never Again) project. His commitment to social justice and the "preferential option for the poor" aligned him with liberation theology, making him a significant figure in the progressive wing of the Latin American Church.

Beyond his political activism, Cardinal Arns was dedicated to expanding the Church's social outreach. He founded numerous community centers, promoted basic ecclesial communities, and initiated programs for AIDS education, homeless children, and prisoners. He also co-founded Pastoral da Criança (Pastoral Care for Children) with his sister, Dr. Zilda Arns. Arns authored numerous books and received many national and international honors for his work. He passed away in São Paulo in 2016 at the age of 95.