Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza, Brazil 🇧🇷

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Fortaleza / Fortalexien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Baturité, Crateús, Crato, Iguatu, Itapipoca, Limoeiro do Norte, Quixadá, Sobral, Tianguá

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph (March 19)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: December 22 (1978)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1854.06.06: Established as Diocese of Ceará (from Diocese of Olinda and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1910.12.05: Became suffragan of Olinda
1914.10.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Crato
1915.11.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza / Fortalexien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Crato and Sobral and lost territory to establish Diocese of Sobral)
1938.05.07: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte and gained suffragan see Limoeiro do Norte
1961.01.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Iguatu and gained suffragan see Iguatu
1963.09.28: Gained suffragan see Crateús
1971.03.13: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Itapipoca and Diocese of Quixadá and gained suffragan sees Itapipoca, Quixadá and Tianguá
2026.01.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Baturité and gained suffragan see Baturité

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.07)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.10.11 – ...):	Archbishop Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão Neto, O.S.B. (63)
Auxiliary Bishop (2025.11.29 – ...):	Bishop Jânison de Sá Santos (56) Titular Bishop of Cillium
Auxiliary Bishop (2025.11.29 – ...):	Bishop Antônio Carlos do Nascimento (53) Titular Bishop of Cibaliana

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Fortaleza (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão Neto, O.S.B. (63)
(2023.10.11 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil)

Parare vias Domini / Preparar os caminhos do senhor

Born:	1962.11.03 (Aracaju, SE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1986.12.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.07.29

Titular Bishop of Ficus (2006.06.07 – 2012.10.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (2006.06.07 – 2012.10.10)

Bishop of Petrópolis (Brazil) (2012.10.10 – 2023.10.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (2023.10.11 – ...)

Archbishop José Antônio Aparecido Tosi Marques (77)
(1999.01.13 – 2023.10.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Fortaleza (Brazil)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1948.05.13 (Jaú, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1974.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.09.20

Priest of São Carlos (Brazil) (1974.12.08 – 1991.07.10)

Titular Bishop of Lysinia (1991.07.10 – 1999.01.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1991.07.10 – 1999.01.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1999.01.13 – 2023.10.11)

Archbishop Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M. (later Cardinal)
(1996.05.29 – 1998.04.15)

Vós sois todos irmãos

Born:	1934.08.08 (Montenegro, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1958.08.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.05.25
Created Cardinal:	2001.02.21
Died:	2022.07.04 (São Paulo, SP, Brazil † 87)

Titular Bishop of Carcabia (1975.03.22 – 1975.12.29)

Coadjutor Bishop of Santo André (Brazil) (1975.03.22 – 1975.12.29)

Bishop of Santo André (Brazil) (1975.12.29 – 1996.05.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1996.05.29 – 1998.04.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (1998.04.15 – 2006.10.31)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana (2001.02.21 [2001.05.20] – 2022.07.04)

Prefect of Congregation for Clergy (2006.10.31 – 2010.10.07)

President of International Council for Catechesis (2006.10.31 – 2010.10.07)

President of Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) (2020.06.29 – 2022.03.27)

Cardinal Aloísio Lorscheider, O.F.M.
(1973.03.26 – 1995.07.12)

In cruce salus et vita

Born:	1924.10.08 (Estrela, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1948.08.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.05.20
Created Cardinal:	1976.05.24
Died:	2007.12.23 (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Santo Ângelo (Brazil) (1962.02.03 – 1973.03.26)

General Secretary of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1968 – 1971)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1971 – 1979)

First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1972 – 1975)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1973.03.26 – 1995.07.12)

President of Caritas Internationalis (1974 – 1975)

President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1975 – 1979)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Montorio (1976.05.24 – 2007.12.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aparecida (Brazil) (1995.07.12 – 2004.01.28)

Archbishop José de Medeiros Delgado
(1963.05.10 – 1973.03.26)

Ita pater

Born:	1905.07.28 (Pombal, PB, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1929.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1941.06.29
Died:	1988.03.09 (Recife, PE, Brazil † 82)

Bishop of Caicó (Brazil) (1941.03.15 – 1951.09.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1951.09.04 – 1963.05.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1963.05.10 – 1973.03.26)

Venerable Archbishop Antônio de Almeida Lustosa, S.D.B.
(1941.07.19 – 1963.02.16)

Sub umbra alarum tuarum

Born:	1886.02.11 (São João del Rei, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1912.01.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1925.02.11
Died:	1974.08.15 (Carpina, PE, Brazil † 88)

Bishop of Uberaba (Brazil) (1924.07.04 – 1928.12.17)

Bishop of Corumbá (Brazil) (1928.12.17 – 1931.07.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1931.07.10 – 1941.07.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1941.07.19 – 1963.02.16)

Titular Archbishop of Velebusdus (1963.02.16 – 1971.03.16)

Archbishop and religious of Salesians of Saint John Bosco (Salesians).

Archbishop Manoel da Silva Gomes
(1915.11.10 – 1941.05.24)

Born:	1874.03.14 (Salvador, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1899.11.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1911.10.29
Died:	1950.03.14 (Fortaleza, CE, Brazil † 76)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mopsuestia (Turkiye) (1911.04.11 – 1912.09.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Ceará (Brazil) (1911.04.11 – 1912.09.16)

Bishop of Ceará (Brazil) (1912.09.16 – 1915.11.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1915.11.10 – 1941.05.24)

Titular Archbishop of Viminacium (1941.05.24 – 1950.03.14)

Bishops of Ceará (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Manoel da Silva Gomes
(1912.09.16 – 1915.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Joaquim José Vieira (later Archbishop)
(1883.08.09 – 1912.09.14)

Born:	1836.05.16 (Itapetininga, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1860.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1883.12.09
Died:	1917.07.08 (Campinas, SP, Brazil † 81)

Bishop of Ceará (Brazil) (1883.08.09 – 1912.09.14)

Titular Bishop of Himeria (1912.09.14 – 1912.11.08)

Titular Archbishop of Cyrrhus (1912.11.08 – 1917.07.08)

Bishop Luís Antônio dos Santos (later Archbishop)
(1860.09.28 – 1881.03.13)

Born:	1817.03.03 (Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1841.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1861.04.14
Died:	1891.03.11 (Salvador, BA, Brazil † 74)

Bishop of Ceará (Brazil) (1860.09.28 – 1881.03.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1881.03.13 – 1890.06.26)

Titular Archbishop of Chalcis (1890.06.26 – 1891.03.11)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Manoel Antônio de Oliveira Lopes (later Archbishop) (1908.01.25 – 1910.11.26)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Valdemir Vicente Andrade Santos (53) (2018.07.11 – 2024.07.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Júlio César Souza de Jesus (54) (2018.07.11 – 2024.06.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Luiz Gomes de Vasconcelos (62) (2012.03.21 – 2015.07.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Rosalvo Cordeiro de Lima (64) (2011.02.02 – 2020.10.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Luiz Ferreira Salles, C.SS.R. (69) (2006.02.01 – 2012.02.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Sérgio da Rocha (66) (later Cardinal) (2001.06.13 – 2007.01.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Plínio José Luz da Silva (70) (2001.06.13 – 2003.11.26)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Adalberto Paulo da Silva, O.F.M. Cap. (1995.05.24 – 2004.03.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Geraldo Nascimento, O.F.M. Cap. (1982.09.10 – 1997.01.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (101) (1974.07.03 – 1994.05.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Miguel Fenelon Câmara Filho (later Archbishop) (1970.01.09 – 1974.02.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop Gérard-Paul-Louis-Marie de Milleville, C.S.Sp. (1964 – 1984)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Raimundo de Castro e Silva (1957.11.09 – 1991.08.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Expedito Eduardo de Oliveira (1953.10.01 – 1959.02.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Elizeu Simões Mendes (1950.08.21 – 1953.09.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop Manoel da Silva Gomes (1911.04.11 – 1912.09.16)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Metropolitana São José, Fortaleza, Ceará
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (131)

Baturité (↙), Itapipoca (←), Limoeiro do Norte (↘), Quixadá (↓)

Statistics (2026)

Area: 8,099 km²

Population: 2,638,260 Catholics (69.0% of 3,823,570 total)

Pastoral Centres: 124 parishes

Personnel: 456 priests (280 diocesan, 176 religious), 63 deacons, 722 religious (228 brothers, 494 sisters), 91 seminarians