Metropolitan Archdiocese of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2013.09.18 – ...):	Archbishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M. (63) President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil President of Latin American Episcopal Council
Auxiliary Bishop (2019.04.10 – ...):	Bishop Darley José Kummer (56) Titular Bishop of Elvas
Auxiliary Bishop (2022.05.17 – ...):	Bishop Bertilo João Morsch (58) Titular Bishop of Bavagaliana
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.03.08 – ...):	Bishop Juarez Albino Destro, R.C.J. (56) Titular Bishop of Sufetula
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.09.20 – ...):	Bishop-elect Odair Miguel Gonsalves dos Santos, C.M. (58) Titular Bishop of Cenæ

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Porto Alegre (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M. (63)
(2013.09.18 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil)
President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil
President of Latin American Episcopal Council

In cruce gloriari

Born:	1960.09.06 (Gaspar, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1990.11.17
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.02.05

Titular Bishop of Patara (2010.11.10 – 2013.09.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (2010.11.10 – 2013.09.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (2013.09.18 – ...)

Vice-President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (2019.05.06 – 2023.04.24)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (2023.04.24 – ...)

President of Latin American Episcopal Council (2023.05.17 – ...)

Archbishop Dadeus Grings (87)
(2001.02.07 – 2013.09.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Porto Alegre (Brazil)

A Verdade Vos Libertará

Born:	1936.09.07 (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1961.12.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.03.15

Priest of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1961.12.23 – 1991.01.23)

Bishop of São João da Boa Vista (Brazil) (1991.01.23 – 2000.04.12)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (2000.04.12 – 2001.02.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (2001.02.07 – 2013.09.18)

Archbishop Altamiro Rossato, C.SS.R.
(1991.07.17 – 2001.02.07)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1925.06.23 (Tuparendi, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1951.12.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.03.02
Died:	2014.05.13 († 88)

Bishop of Marabá (Brazil) (1985.12.08 – 1989.03.15)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1989.03.15 – 1991.07.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1991.07.17 – 2001.02.07)

Archbishop João Cláudio Colling
(1981.08.29 – 1991.07.17)

Illum oportet crescere

Born:	1913.06.24 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1937.08.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.01.29
Died:	1992.09.03 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Corone (1949.12.12 – 1951.03.23)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santa Maria (Brazil) (1949.12.12 – 1951.03.23)

Bishop of Passo Fundo (Brazil) (1951.03.23 – 1981.08.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1981.08.29 – 1991.07.17)

Cardinal Alfredo Vicente Scherer
(1946.12.30 – 1981.08.29)

Evangelizare misit me

Born:	1903.02.05 (Santa Teresinha, PB, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1926.04.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.02.23
Created Cardinal:	1969.04.28
Died:	1996.03.09 (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil † 93)

Priest of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1926.04.03 – 1946.06.13)

Titular Bishop of Hemeria (1946.06.13 – 1946.12.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1946.06.13 – 1946.12.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1946.12.30 – 1981.08.29)

Vice-President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1968 – 1970)

Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora de La Salette (1969.04.30 – 1996.03.09)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1970 – 1971)

Archbishop João Batista Becker
(1912.08.01 – 1946.06.15)

Pascam in judicio

Born:	1870.02.24 (Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1896.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1908.09.13
Died:	1946.06.15 († 76)

Bishop of Santa Catarina (Brazil) (1908.05.03 – 1912.08.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1912.08.01 – 1946.06.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Vacaria (Brazil) (1934.09.08 – 1936.06.27)

Archbishop Cláudio José Gonçalves Ponce de Leon, C.M.
(1910.08.15 – 1912.01.09)

Born:	1841.02.21 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1867.06.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1881.07.24
Died:	1924.05.26 († 83)

Bishop of Goiás (Brazil) (1881.05.13 – 1890.06.26)

Bishop of São Pedro do Rio Grande (Brazil) (1890.06.26 – 1910.08.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1910.08.15 – 1912.01.09)

Titular Archbishop of Anazarbus (1912.01.09 – 1924.05.26)

Bishops of São Pedro do Rio Grande (Roman Rite)

Bishop Cláudio José Gonçalves Ponce de Leon, C.M. (later Archbishop)
(1890.06.26 – 1910.08.15)

(see above)

Bishop Sebastião Dias Laranjeira
(1860.09.28 – 1888.08.13)

Born:	1820.01.20 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1844.03.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1860.10.07
Died:	1888.08.13 († 68)

Bishop of São Pedro do Rio Grande (Brazil) (1860.09.28 – 1888.08.13)

Bishop Feliciano José Rodrigues de Araujo Prates
(1851.05.05 – 1858.05.27)

Born:	1781.07.13 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1804.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1853.05.29
Died:	1858.05.27 († 76)

Bishop of São Pedro do Rio Grande (Brazil) (1851.05.05 – 1858.05.27)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Dadeus Grings (87) (2000.04.12 – 2001.02.07)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Altamiro Rossato, C.SS.R. (1989.03.15 – 1991.07.17)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop João Antônio Pimenta (1906.02.21 – 1911.03.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Adilson Pedro Busin, C.S. (58) (2016.01.27 – 2023.05.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Aparecido Donizete de Souza (59) (2015.12.30 – 2022.06.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Leomar Antônio Brustolin (56) (later Archbishop) (2015.01.07 – 2021.06.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Agenor Girardi, M.S.C. (2010.12.22 – 2015.05.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M. (63) (later Archbishop) (2010.11.10 – 2013.09.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Remídio José Bohn (2006.01.18 – 2011.12.28)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alessandro Carmelo Ruffinoni, C.S. (80) (2006.01.18 – 2010.06.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jacinto Inácio Flach (71) (2003.11.12 – 2009.09.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (82) (later Archbishop) (1998.03.11 – 2001.01.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Clemente Weber (85) (1994.03.23 – 2004.06.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Osvino José Both (85) (later Archbishop) (1990.06.26 – 1995.11.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Thadeu Gomes Canellas (93) (1983.11.19 – 1999.11.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Mário Stroeher (84) (1983.03.25 – 1986.08.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Urbano José Allgayer (1974.02.05 – 1982.02.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Antônio do Carmo Cheuiche, O.C.D. (1971.05.05 – 2001.06.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Ivo Lorscheiter (1965.11.12 – 1974.02.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Edmundo Luís Kunz (1955.08.01 – 1988.09.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop-elect Alfredo Vicente Scherer (later Cardinal) (1946.06.13 – 1946.12.30)

Contact Info

Websites:

Statistics

Area: 13,751 km²

Population: 2,165,721 Catholics (64.0% of 3,383,940 total) (2021)

Statistics: 160 parishes, 739 missions, 332 priests (203 diocesan, 129 religious), 63 deacons, 1,357 religious (319 brothers, 1,038 sisters), 28 seminarians (2021)

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Peter (Sunday nearest 06.29)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: August 10 (1986)

History

1848.05.07: Established as Diocese of São Pedro do Rio Grande (from Diocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1892.04.27: Became suffragan of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
1910.08.15: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Porto Alegre / Portalegren(sis) in Brasilia (Latin) (with suffragan sees Pelotas, Santa Catarina, Santa Maria and Uruguaiana and lost territory to establish Diocese of Pelotas, Diocese of Santa Maria and Diocese of Uruguaiana)
1921.05.27: Exchanged territory with Diocese of Santa Maria
1927.01.17: Lost suffragan see Santa Catarina
1934.09.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Caxias and Territorial Prelature of Vacaria and gained suffragan sees Caxias and Vacaria
1937.02.13: Gained territory from Diocese of Santa Maria
1951.03.10: Gained suffragan see Passo Fundo
1957.01.18: Gained territory from Territorial Prelature of Vacaria
1959.04.15: Lost territory to Diocese of Caxias and Diocese of Passo Fundo
1959.06.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Santa Cruz do Sul and gained suffragan see Santa Cruz do Sul
1960.06.25: Gained suffragan see Bagé
1961.05.22: Gained suffragan sees Frederico Westphalen and Santo Ângelo
1970.11.23: Lost territory to Diocese of Caxias do Sul
1971.05.27: Gained suffragan sees Cruz Alta, Erexim and Rio Grande
1980.02.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Novo Hamburgo and gained suffragan see Novo Hamburgo
1991.07.17: Gained suffragan see Cachoeira do Sul
1999.11.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Osório and gained suffragan see Osório
2008.07.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Montenegro and gained suffragan see Montenegro
2011.04.13: Lost suffragan sees Bagé, Cachoeira do Sul, Cruz Alta, Erexim, Frederico Westphalen, Passo Fundo, Pelotas, Rio Grande, Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Maria, Santo Ângelo, Uruguaiana and Vacaria

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.07)