Avelar Brandão Vilela | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia | |
 The then-archbishop pictured in 1968. | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | São Salvador da Bahia |
| See | São Salvador da Bahia |
| Appointed | 25 March 1971 |
| Term ended | 19 December 1986 |
| Predecessor | Eugênio de Araújo Sales |
| Successor | Lucas Moreira Neves |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Bonifacio ed Alessio (1973-86) Primate of Brazil (1980-86) |
| Previous posts | Bishop of Petrolina (1946-55) Archbishop of Teresina (1955-71) Vice-President of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference (1964-68; 1971-74) Second Vice-President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (1965-66) President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (1966-72) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 27 October 1935 by Antônio Maria Alves de Siqueira |
| Consecration | 27 October 1946 by José Tomas Gomes da Silva |
| Created cardinal | 5 March 1973 byPope Paul VI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Avelar Brandão Vilela 13 June 1912 |
| Died | 19 December 1986(1986-12-19) (aged 74) São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil |
| Buried | São Salvador da Bahia Cathedral |
| Motto | De plentitudine Christi |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Avelar Brandão Vilela | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | São Salvador da Bahia |
Avelar Brandão Vilela (June 13, 1912 – December 19, 1986) was a BrazilianCardinal of theRoman Catholic Church. He served asArchbishop of São Salvador da Bahia from 1971 until his death, and was elevated to thecardinalate in 1973.
Avelar Brandão Vilela was born inViçosa, and studied at theseminaries inMaceió and inOlinda. He wasordained to thepriesthood on October 27, 1935. He then served as aprofessor andspiritual advisor of the seminary ofAracajú,secretary of theDiocese of Aracajú, and diocesanchaplain of theCatholic Action.
On June 13, 1946, his thirty-fourth birthday, Vilela was appointedBishop ofPetrolina byPope Pius XII. He received hisepiscopal consecration on the following October 27 from BishopJosé Gomes da Silva, with BishopAdalberto Accioli Sobral and ArchbishopMário de Miranda Villas-Boas serving asco-consecrators. Vilela was later promoted to Archbishop ofTeresina on November 5, 1955, and attended theSecond Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. Serving asPresident of theLatin American Episcopal Conference from 1966 to 1972, he was namedArchbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on March 25, 1971.
Pope Paul VI created himCardinal Priest ofSanti Bonifacio e Alessio in theconsistory of March 5, 1973. Vilela was one of thecardinal electors who participated in theconclaves ofAugust andOctober 1978, which selectedPopes John Paul I andJohn Paul II respectively. He earned the nickname of the "Great Conciliator" for his ability to reach bothprogressives andconservatives in theBrazilian Church,[1] and was given the title ofPrimate ofBrazil when his archdiocese was raised to that rank on October 25, 1980.
The Cardinal died fromstomach cancer[1] inSão Salvador, at age 74. He is buried at themetropolitan cathedral of São Salvador da Bahia.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop ofPetrolina 1946–1955 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Archbishop ofTeresina 1955–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia 1971–1986 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
