Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Fortaleza / Fortalexien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: 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

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.07)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.10.11 – ...):	Archbishop Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão Neto, O.S.B. (61)
Auxiliary Bishop (2018.07.11 – ...):	Bishop Valdemir Vicente Andrade Santos (51) Titular Bishop of Castabala
Auxiliary Bishop (2018.07.11 – ...):	Bishop Júlio César Souza de Jesus (52) Titular Bishop of Arba

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Fortaleza (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gregório Ben Lâmed Paixão Neto, O.S.B. (61)
(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 (76)
(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)