Paulo Evaristo Arns Brazilian cardinal, Franciscan Date of Birth: 14.07.1921 Country: Brazil

1. Early Life and Education
2. Priesthood and Religious Life
3. Episcopal and Archbishopric Career
4. Cardinalate
5. Activism and Theology of Liberation
6. Retirement and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Paulo Evaristo Arns was born on September 14, 1921, in Forquilinha, Brazil, to German immigrants Gabriel Arns and Helena Steiner. He was the fifth of thirteen children, and three of his sisters later became nuns, with one, Zilda Arns, becoming an organizer of children's charities. One of his brothers became a Franciscan.

From 1941 to 1943, Arns studied philosophy in Curitiba. He then studied theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro from 1944 to 1947. In 1950, he visited the Sorbonne in Paris, studying literature, Latin, and Greek, as well as ancient history.

Priesthood and Religious Life

On December 10, 1943, Arns was ordained as a priest in the Franciscan order. In 1945-1966, he was the editor of the monthly magazine Sponsa Christi and the Franciscan provincial. He was also a professor and rector of the Faculty of Philosophy in Petropolis.

Episcopal and Archbishopric Career

On May 2, 1966, Arns was appointed the Titular Bishop of Respetta and Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo. He was consecrated as a bishop on July 3, 1966. On October 22, 1970, he was appointed Archbishop of São Paulo.

Cardinalate

On March 5, 1973, Arns was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Paul VI. He became a Cardinal Priest with the titular church of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Tuscolano. He participated in the August and October conclaves of 1978.

Activism and Theology of Liberation

As Archbishop, Arns sold the episcopal palace and used the money to build a social station in the favelas. He was known as a proponent of liberation theology and became one of Brazil's most popular clergy, opposing the military dictatorship. He led the Tortura Nunca Mais (Never Again Torture) project in the late 1970s.

Retirement and Legacy

Arns retired as Archbishop on April 15, 1998, at the age of 77. He had already asked and received permission to retire from Pope John Paul II on his 75th birthday in 1996. He did not participate in the 2005 papal conclave, as he had already reached the age limit of 80.

Arns received the Nansen Refugee Award in 1985, and he became Cardinal Protopriest on July 9, 2012. At the time of his death, he was the oldest and only surviving cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church by virtue of his elevation.