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Odilo Scherer

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His Eminence

Odilo Pedro Scherer
Cardinal, Archbishop of São Paulo
Scherer on 16 September 2018
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseSão Paulo
SeeSão Paulo
Appointed21 March 2007
Installed29 April 2007
PredecessorCláudio Hummes
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale (2007-)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination7 December 1976
by Armando Círio
Consecration2 February 2002
by Cláudio Hummes
Created cardinal24 November 2007
by Pope Benedict XVI
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Odilo Pedro Scherer

(1949-09-21) 21 September 1949 (age 75)
Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
DenominationRoman Catholic
MottoIn meam commemorationem ("In memory of me")
Coat of armsOdilo Pedro Scherer's coat of arms
Styles of
Odilo Scherer
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeSão Paulo

Odilo Pedro Scherer (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈdʒilu ˈpedɾu ˈʃɛɾeʁ]; born 21 September 1949) is a Brazilian cardinal of the Catholic Church. Since 2007 he has been the Archbishop of São Paulo, where he was auxiliary bishop from 2001 to 2007. From 1994 to 2001 he worked in the Roman Curia at the Congregation for Bishops.

Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2007. Scherer was mentioned in the international media as a possible contender to succeed Benedict in 2013. When Scherer submitted his resignation as required at the age of 75, Pope Francis asked him to serve for two more years.

He has been described as "an intellectual with great command of finance and economics" and "on the bookish side".[1] His theology and pastoral approach has been called "considered to be theologically moderate, though in his own country he is seen as fairly conservative".[2] In style he is reserved, more evocative of his German ancestors than his outgoing peers in Brazil. He eschews the politics and language of liberation theology, but preaches and practices an evangelism devoted to the suffering of the poor and open to lay participation and charismatic movements.[3]

Biography

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Early life

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Scherer was born on 21 September 1949 in Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was the seventh of eleven children born to Edwino and Francisca (née Steffens) Scherer, part of the German Brazilian community. His paternal great-grandfather Mathias emigrated from Theley, Saarland, in the early 1880s. Originally named "Otto", he adopted the name "Odilo" in his youth, preferring "its softer pronunciation".[3][4][5][a] His paternal uncle Alfredo Scherer was Archbishop of Porto Alegre from 1947 to 1981 and a cardinal from 1969 to 1996.[3][5]

After preparatory studies at the minor seminary of São José in Curitiba (Paraná) from 1963 to 1969, Scherer studied philosophy at Queen of the Apostles Major Seminary in Curitiba and at the Faculty of Education of the University of Passo Fundo (Rio Grande do Sul) from 1970 to 1975. He also studied philosophy at the Studium Theologicum, part of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Curitiba.[6] On 7 December 1976 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo[7] by Bishop Armando Círio.[citation needed]

He served as rector and professor at the diocesan seminary of Cascavel (Paraná) in 1977/78; rector and professor at the diocesan seminary of Toledo from 1979 to 1982 (and again in 1993); professor of philosophy at the Arnaldo Busatto School of Human Sciences in Toledo from 1980 to 1985. He worked as parochial vicar and parish priest of the Cathedral Parish of Cristo Rei in Toledo from 1985 to 1988.[6] In the mid-1980s, Scherer also worked as a parish priest while on holiday in Bad Vilbel, Hesse, in Germany.[3] He then taught philosophy at the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná from 1985 to 1994 and theology at the Paulo VI Theological Institute in Londrina in 1985. He earned his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome between 1988 and 1991. Returning to Brazil, he was rector of the Theological Seminary in Cascavel in 1991/92 and director and professor of the Interdiocesan Center of Theology of Cascavel from 1991 to 1993. He was rector of the Maria Mãe da Igreja Seminary in Serra in 1993. He then earned a master's degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1994/96.[6]

For the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB) he was a member of the National Clergy Commission from 1985 to 1988 and a member of its Theological Commission for the South II Region in 1992/93.[6]

In January 1994, he joined the staff of the Congregation for Bishops, leaving only when he was named a bishop in November 2001. Alongside his Curial service, he provided pastoral service at the parish of Saints Francis and Catherine, Patrons of Italy and was chaplain of the nursing home of the Franciscan Handmaids of the Good Shepherd.[8]

Bishop and archbishop

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On 28 November 2001, Pope John Paul II named Scherer and two others auxiliary bishops of São Paulo and he was appointed titular bishop of Novi.[7] He received his episcopal consecration on 2 February 2002[8] from Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, with Archbishop Armando Círio and Bishop Anuar Battisti as co-consecrators.[citation needed] He was elected to a four-year term as secretary general of the of the CNBB in May 2003.[8] On 12 December 2006, Pope Benedict appointed him adjunct general secretary of the Fifth Episcopal Conference of Latin America, scheduled for May 2007 in Aparecida.[9] Alateia later said he proved impressive as secretary general of the CNBB for his "polished training, his calm demeanor, or his firm authoritativeness when needed".[10]

Pope Benedict XVI named Scherer Archbishop of São Paulo on 21 March 2007.[8] He was installed there on 29 April 2007, becoming ex officio the Grand-Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP).[6] His appointment was timed to allow for his installation before the pope's visit to Brazil in May. He was credited for his three areas of experience: in the Curia, the National Conference of Brazilian Bushops, and São Paulo. He was described as a "moderate" like his predecessor Cardinal Hummes.[11] Asked at a 27 April news conference to assess the tension between the Vatican and the Latin American liberation theology movement that had long been contentious, he praised the movement for making the Church focus on poverty and social justice, while faulting its occasional reliance on Marxist analysis.[12] About this time he also criticized the excesses of the charismatic movement as exemplified by Marcelo Rossi, a popular priest. Scherer said that "Priests aren't showmen.... The Mass is not to be transformed into a show."[13] In early May he lost the election for president of the CNBB, as the bishops chose to demonstrate their independence from the Vatican rather than endorse Benedict's choice for their largest diocese.[14] He then served from 2007 to 2011 as a member of the CNBB's commission for doctrine, and since 2007 has served continuously as a member of the CNBB's permanent council.[6]

Scherer greeted Pope Benedict upon his arrival and accompanied him on much of his visit to Brazil from 9 to 13 May 2007, which was limited to the Archdiocese of São Paulo.[citation needed]

Cardinal

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On 17 October 2007, Pope Benedict announced that he would make Scherer a cardinal.[15][16] Scherer was elevated to the College of Cardinals in the consistory held on 24 November 2007. He was assigned to the order of cardinal-priests with the title of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale.[17] On 12 June 2008, Benedict named him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy.[18][b]

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to the newly formed Cardinals Commission on the Vatican Bank in 2008[3] and renewed his membership on 16 February 2013 after announcing he planned to resign the papacy at the end of the month.[20] His service ended when Francis replaced four of the five members on the commission in January 2014 after less than a year as pope.[21]

On 24 June 2008 he was named as one of pope's appointees to the October 2008 meeting of the Synod of Bishops.[22] He was elected to the secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.[23] He participated in the October 2014 synod as a member of its general council.[24] He joined in the October 2015 synod as one of the elected representatives of Brazil's bishops.[25]

He was named to the presidential council of the Pontifical Council for the Family on 31 January 2009.[26] He was appointed to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on 8 October 2009.[27][c]

Scherer has periodically objected to legal developments with respect to abortion in Brazil. In September 2008, he warned of the dangers of granting exceptions to the principle of the preservation of life as the Brazil Supreme Court considered allowing abortion in cases of anencephaly.[29]

He has opposed attempts to enforce more restrictive concepts of the separation of church and state, arguing that traditional expressions do not represents attempts to establish or privilege one religion and have little impact on non-believers. In 2009, Scherer argued that removing crucifixes in public places would not be in the best interests of Brazilian secularism.[30] In 2012 he objected to a phrase acknowledging the existence of a Supreme Being on Brazilian currency.[31]

When Pope Benedict established the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization in June 2010, Scherer explained it was meant to address a global "evangelization deficit" and underscore the Church's mission.[32] On 5 January 2011, he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation.[33][d]

He was president of one of the CNBB's regions, the State of São Paulo, from 2011 to 2015.[6]

In 2013 he served as one of the 115 cardinals in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.[35] Scherer was mentioned in the international media as a possible contender to succeed Benedict, and he received some votes.[36][1] The Catholic Herald called him "perhaps the most prominent Latin American candidate".[2][10]

On 30 November 2013, Pope Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.[37][e]

In 2016, during the health crisis caused by the Zika virus, Scherer spoke frankly about the use of contraception. Where his colleague Bishop Leonardo Ulrich Steiner emphasized that Pope Francis' endorsement of contraception for disease prevention did not represent a change in the Church's prohibition against birth control, Scherer said: "Couples know very well how to prevent an undesired pregnancy", and added that the Church already gives "a lot of space to the personal decision" to prevent conception.[39]

In the increasingly polarized political environment of 21st-century Brazil, he has had to contend with occasional political attacks. In October 2017, he rejected criticism of his support for distributing a controversial food supplement to the poor. He noted that the Church backed it since 2013, years before local politicians, so the mayor of São Paulo João Doria, who took office in 2017, was joining the work of the archdiocese rather than winning support from the Church. He described the Church's efforts in support of legislation to make it easier for grocers and restaurants to donate food and challenged his critics: "I feel offended when people compare this to animal food, as if we had contempt towards the poor. Contempt is to refuse food to the poor. Starvation is contempt. Contempt is when we politicize the hunger of the poor instead of helping the poor."[40] In 2019, when opponents of the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon charged that an interfaith religious service celebrating the Synod constituted "left-wing activism", Scherer allowed that there had been a dispute between demonstrators but minimized it as "the beginning of a disturbance" and distanced the service from the actions of individuals. He said: "Everything happened in complete serenity.... The ones who assert it was a 'mess' and a 'profanity' are far from the truth."[41]

Since May 2019 Scherer has been the representative of the CNBB to the Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELAM)[6] and in May 2019 he was also elected to a four-year term as vice president of CELAM.[42] Pope Francis named him a member of the Council for the Economy on 6 August 2020.[43]

In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scherer initially kept churches open in his archdiocese, scheduling more frequent liturgical celebrations to reduce the size of the gatherings and recommending that the elderly and those at risk attend virtually.[44] On 21 March, he suspended all celebrations with a congregation present.[45] In May, as the number of sick continued to increase, he defended his decision even as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro minimized the health problem and was supported by evangelical pastors and some Protestant groups. Traditionalist Catholics argued for public Masses as well. Scherer's stance was supported by local government officials.[46]

On 25 October 2023, Scherer was named to a four-year term as one of 21 members of CELAM's Center for Information and Research Management.[47]

In November 2023, he suspended a priest who refused to retract statements calling Scherer and Pope Francis "heretics" and refusing to abide by restrictions on the use of the pre-Vatican II liturgy. On social media he put the liturgy issue in a broader context: "The problem is not simply the 'Tridentine Mass,' but the denial of the Second Vatican Council.... From denial of the Council we then go to denial of the Pope’s legitimacy. And from there, there is chaos in the Church. The rite of the Sacraments, including the Eucharist, is not a matter of subjective personal conscience. It is the responsibility of the Magisterium of the Church, which we can only accept and obey."[48]

Scherer submitted his resignation as archbishop as required when he turned 75 in September 2024. Pope Francis declined it, asking him to remain for two more years.[49]

Writings

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His principal works are:[6]

  • Justo sofredor: uma interpretação do caminho de Jesus e do discípulo, Ed. Loyola, 1995.
  • Reflexões sobre Fé e Política, Edições CNBB, 2018.

Notes

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  1. ^ Scherer has visited the German town from which his ancestors emigrated several times, as recently as 2003, and he speaks the local dialect of German.[4]
  2. ^ This membership was confirmed in 2014.[19]
  3. ^ Pope Francis confirmed that assignment in 2014.[28]
  4. ^ His membership was renewed in April 2023.[34]
  5. ^ His membership was renewed in the restructured Dicastery for Culture and Education in 2023.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gaetan, Victor (2023). God's Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy, and America's Armageddon. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 137–8. ISBN 9781538184677. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Barrett, David B. (6 March 2013). "The men who could be pope: Cardinal Odilo Scherer". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Brüggemann, Alexander; Milz, Thomas (22 September 2024). "Kardinal Scherer wird 75: Ein Brasilianer mit saarländischen Wurzeln" (in German). Katholisch.de. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Höfling, Gabriele (13 March 2013). "Theley für Scherer" (in German). Katholisch.de. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Dom Odilo Pedro Scherer wird Kardinal" (PDF). Saarbrücker Zeitung (in German). 27 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cardeal Odilo Pedro Scherer 7º Arcebispo Metropolitano de São Paulo". Archdiocese of Sao Paolo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Rinunce e Nomine, 28.11.2001" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 28 November 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.03.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 March 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.12.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b Ribeiro, Alexandre (8 March 2013). "Odilo Cardinal Scherer would not be a surprise for Pope". Alateia. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  11. ^ Rey, Valquíria (21 March 2007). "Papa nomeia Dom Odilo Scherer para Arquidiocese de SP" (in Portuguese). BBC Brazil. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  12. ^ Rohter, Larry (7 May 2007). "As Pope Heads to Brazil, Rival Theology Persists". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  13. ^ Rohter, Larry; Fisher, Ian (9 May 2007). "Brazil Greets Pope But Questions His Perspective". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Rohter, Larry (13 May 2007). "Pope and Bishops Set Thorny Agenda for Talks". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Pope Names 23 New Cardinals". Zenit. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  16. ^ Allen Jr., John L. (17 October 2007). "Complete List of New Cardinals". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Titular Churches of the new Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church". The Holy See. Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. 24 November 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.06.2008" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Rinunce e Nomina, 15.01.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 16 l.02.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office.
  21. ^ Glatz, Carol (15 January 2014). "Pope replaces cardinals serving on Vatican bank oversight commission". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 24.06.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 31.01.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 09.09.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.09.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Rinunce e Nominee, 31.01.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 31 January 2009.
  27. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.10.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.01.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  29. ^ Scherer, Odilo (15 September 2008). "Anencéfos: Quantas Interrogações!". Episcopal Conference of Brazil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Le retrait des crucifix rendrait-il le Brésil meilleur?". Zenit (in French). 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  31. ^ "Brazil's Banknotes Still Praise God, for Now". New York Times. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  32. ^ "NA". Zenit. 23 July 2010.
  33. ^ "Rinunce e Nominee, 05.01.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 25.04.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  35. ^ "List of Cardinal Electors". Zenit. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  36. ^ Craggs, Ryan (11 February 2013). "Latin American Pope? Benedict XVI Resignation Opens Door For Odilo Scherer, Leonardo Sandri And Others". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  37. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.11.2013" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  38. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 18.02.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  39. ^ Romero, Simon; Yardley, Jim (18 February 2016). "Francis Says Contraception Can Be Used to Slow Zika". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  40. ^ Domingues, Filipe (20 October 2017). "Brazilian cardinal supports controversial food policy in São Paulo". Crux. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  41. ^ Campos Lima, Eduardo (5 October 2019). "Protesters accuse interfaith event at São Paulo cathedral of left-wing activism". Crux. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  42. ^ Silvonei, José (16 May 2019). "Cardeal Odilo Pedro Scherer eleito Primeiro vice-presidente do CELAM". Vatican News (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  43. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 06.08.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  44. ^ Pires, Breiller (19 March 2020). "Igrejas desafiam recomendação de suspender missas e cultos diante da pandemia do coronavírus". El País. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  45. ^ "Comunicado sobre a suspensão temporária de Celebrações Religiosas". Archdiocese of São Paulo. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  46. ^ Campos Lima, Eduardo. "Brazilian Church 'on the vanguard' of fight against COVID-19 in São Paulo". Crux. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  47. ^ Morillo, Ángel (27 October 2023). "Presidencia del Celam nombra a 21 miembros para el Consejo del Centro de Gestión del Conocimiento" (in Spanish). ADN CELAM. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  48. ^ Lewis, Mike (17 December 2023). "Brazilian cardinal slams radtrad claims on X". Where Peter Is. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  49. ^ "Dom Odilo completa 75 anos e envia carta de renúncia ao Papa Francisco". Canção Nova (in Portuguese). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Ernesto Maria Fiore
 — TITULAR —
Titular Bishop of Novi
28 November 2001 – 21 March 2007 		Succeeded by
Carmelo Cuttitta
Preceded by General Secretary of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference
2003 – 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Archbishop of São Paulo
21 March 2007 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
24 November 2007 – present
Preceded by First Vice-President of the Latin American Episcopal Council
15 May 2019 – present
Order of precedence
Preceded byas Vice President of Brazil Brazilian order of precedence
3rd in line
as Brazilian cardinal 		Followed by
Foreign ambassadors
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