Pope names Brazilian Archbishop to head congregation for Religious.

(January 05, 2011) Earlier on Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Brazilian Archbishop Joào Braz de Aviz of Brasilia as Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He takes the place of Cardinal Franc Rode who retired on reaching age 75.
Born in Mafra, Brazil in 1947, Archbishop Braz de Aviz completed his philosophic studies in the country’s major seminary before being sent to Rome, where he earned degrees in theological studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Lateran University. Ordained priest in 1972 for the Diocese of Apucarana, he served in several Brazilian parishes. He also served as Rector of the Major Seminary of Apucarana and as Professor of Theology in Pope Paul VI Theological Institute at Londrina. In 1994, he was named auxiliary bishop of Vitoria. Four years later he became bishop of Ponta Grossa. In 2002, he was appointed archbishop of Brasilia. Last May he organised the XVI National Eucharistic Congress to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the city.