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

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

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)