Odilo Scherer

Odilo Pedro Scherer (Brazilian Portuguese: [oˈdʒilu ˈpedɾu ˈʃɛɾeɾ]; born September 21, 1949) is a Brazilian Cardinal of the Catholic Church, who has been the Archbishop of São Paulo since March 2007. He was made a cardinal in November 2007. In the international media, he was mentioned as a possible contender to succeed Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013.[1] He also holds the position of Grand-Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP),[2] one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Brazil.

His Eminence

Odilo Pedro Scherer
Cardinal
Archbishop of São Paulo
Scherer on 16 September 2018.
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseSão Paulo
SeeSão Paulo
AppointedMarch 21, 2007
InstalledApril 29, 2007
PredecessorCláudio Cardinal Hummes O.F.M.
Other postsCardinal-Priest of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale (2007-)
Orders
OrdinationDecember 7, 1976
by Armando Círio
ConsecrationFebruary 2, 2002
by Cláudio Hummes O.F.M.
Created cardinalNovember 24, 2007
by Pope Benedict XVI
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth nameOdilo Pedro Scherer
Born (1949-09-21) September 21, 1949
Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
NationalityBrazilian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post
MottoIn meam commemorationem ("In the memory of me")
Coat of arms

Biography

Early life and ordination

Scherer is German Brazilian and was born in Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, to Edwino and Francisca (née Steffens) Scherer. He is a nephew of Alfredo Scherer (1903–96), who was Cardinal Archbishop of Porto Alegre. His father's family emigrated from Tholey, Saarland.[3] His mother was also descended from immigrants from Saarland.

After attending the minor and major seminaries in Curitiba, Scherer studied at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and the Pontifical Gregorian University (from where he obtained his Doctorate of Sacred Theology in 1991) in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Armando Círio, OSI, on December 7, 1976.

Professor and curialist

He served as director and professor at the diocesan seminary of Cascavel (1977–1978), the diocesan seminary of Toledo (1979–1982, 1993), and the Centro Interdiocesano de Teologia de Cascavel (1991–1993).

Before doing pastoral work in Toledo from 1985 to 1988, Scherer taught philosophy at the Ciências Humanas Arnaldo Busatto (1980–1985), and theology at the Instituto Teológico Paulo VI (1985). He then taught at the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná until 1994.

From 1994 to 2001, he was an official of the Congregation for Bishops in the Roman Curia, while serving as a Roman pastor and chaplain during his spare time.[4] During those years in Europe Scherer also on various occasions studied the German language at the Goethe-Institut in Staufen im Breisgau.

Bishop and Archbishop

On November 28, 2001, Scherer was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo and Titular Bishop of Novi. He received his episcopal consecration on February 2, 2002, from Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, OFM, with Archbishops Armando Círio and Anuar Battisti serving as co-consecrators. He was made Secretary General of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference in 2003. In this way, he also became the Grand-Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP).[5]

Cardinal

Pope Benedict XVI named Scherer as the seventh Archbishop of São Paulo on March 21, 2007. He replaced Cardinal Hummes, who was made Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. His appointment brought an end to almost four decades of Franciscan leadership of the archdiocese; before Hummes, Paulo Evaristo Arns led the diocese for 28 years. Scherer accompanied Pope Benedict for a great part of his visit to Brazil in May 2007, which was largely held in the former's see of São Paulo, and he delivered a speech during a ceremony to celebrate the Pope's arrival.

Styles of
Odilo Scherer
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeSão Paulo

On October 17, 2007, the Pope announced that he would make Scherer a Cardinal. Scherer was elevated to the College of Cardinals in the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica on November 24, 2007, becoming Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale.[6][7]

On June 12, 2008, he was appointed by Benedict as a member of the Congregation for the Clergy.[8] On January 5, 2011, he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation.[9]

On November 30, 2013, he was named a Member of the Congregation for Catholic Education by Pope Francis.[10]

Coronavirus pandemic
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardinal Scherer as Archbishop of São Paulo defended that churches remain open, but with a greater number of liturgical celebrations per day, in an attempt to prevent large gatherings.[11] Later, he declared the suspension of celebrations with the people.[12][13]

Views

General outlook

Scherer is considered to be theologically moderate.[14] He is one of just a handful of cardinals that use modern social media routinely.

Evangelization
Arms of Cardinal Scherer

According to a July 23, 2010, article by the website of the Catholic Zenit News Agency, Cardinal Scherer thinks there is an "evangelization deficit" around the globe today, which is why Pope Benedict established a new division of the Roman Curia to deal with that issue. Cardinal Scherer was quoted in the article as saying that the Pope "brings all to understand that this [new evangelization] is an objective of his, and that it must be the attitude of the Church worldwide, to respond to the challenges launched by the present 'change of age in the history of humanity.'"

Abortion

Cardinal Scherer asked Brazilians that if the country’s Supreme Court legalizes abortion for fetus' with anencephaly, what will be the next group ‘incompatible with life’ to be eliminated?[15]

Liberation theology

He once criticized liberation theology's use of "Marxism as a tool of analysis," but supported its focus on social injustice and poverty (as fully in keeping with established, orthodox Catholic doctrine on these issues).[16][17]

Secularism in Brazil

Cardinal Scherer has argued that removing crucifixes in public places would not be in the best interests of Brazilian secularism.[18]

Priests and the liturgy

In reference to the popular Brazilian priest Marcelo Rossi, Scherer stated that, "Priests aren't showmen. ...The Mass is not to be transformed into a show".[19]

References
  1. Craggs, Ryan (February 11, 2013). "Latin American Pope? Benedict XVI Resignation Opens Door For Odilo Scherer, Leonardo Sandri And Others". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  2. Paulo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São. "Administração". PUC-SP. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  3. "Cardinal Scherer stays in contact with his relatives in Germany" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  4. Whispers in the Loggia. Benedictine Rule: You Pick Your Successor March 21, 2007
  5. Paulo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São. "Administração". PUC-SP. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  6. "Pope Names 23 New Cardinals". Zenit. October 17, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  7. Allen Jr., John L. (October 17, 2007). "Complete List of New Cardinals". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  8. "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.06.2008" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. June 12, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  9. "Di Membri Del Pontificio Consiglio Per La Promozione Della Nuova Evangelizzazione". Press.catholica.va. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  10. "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.11.2013" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. November 30, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  11. Pires, Breiller (March 19, 2020). "Igrejas desafiam recomendação de suspender missas e cultos diante da pandemia do coronavírus". El País. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  12. "Comunicado sobre a suspensão temporária de Celebrações Religiosas". March 21, 2020. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  13. "Comunicado n°2 da Arquidiocese de São Paulo sobre Celebrações e outras Ações Pastorais nas igrejas durante a pandemia do Coronavírus". March 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  14. BBC Brazil. Papa nomeia Dom Odilo Scherer para Arquidiocese de SP March 21, 2007
  15. "Brazilian cardinal says after abortion for anencephaly babies others could be next". Cardinalrating.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  16. "Library : What is Catholic Social Teaching?". Catholic Culture. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  17. Rohter, Larry (May 7, 2007). "As Pope Heads to Brazil, Rival Theology Persists". New York Times.
  18. "Le retrait des crucifix rendrait-il le Brésil meilleur?" (in French). Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  19. Rohter, Larry; Fisher, Ian (May 9, 2007). "Brazil Greets Pope But Questions His Perspective". New York Times.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Cláudio Hummes		 Archbishop of São Paulo
March 21, 2007 – present		 Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Dias Toffoli
as President of the Supreme Federal Court		 Brazilian order of precedence
6th in line
as Brazilian cardinal		 Followed by
Ministers of State
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