Odilo Scherer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Odilo Pedro Scherer |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop of São Paulo | |
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Scherer on 16 September 2018
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | São Paulo |
| See | São Paulo |
| Appointed | 21 March 2007 |
| Enthroned | 29 April 2007 |
| Predecessor | Cláudio Hummes |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale (2007–) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 7 December 1976 |
| Consecration | 2 February 2002 by Cláudio Hummes |
| Created Cardinal | 24 November 2007 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Otto Pedro Scherer |
| Born | 21 September 1949 Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | In meam commemorationem ("In memory of me") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Odilo Scherer |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | São Paulo |
Odilo Pedro Scherer was born on September 21, 1949. He is a Brazilian cardinal in the Catholic Church. Since 2007, he has been the Archbishop of São Paulo, a very important leader in the Church. Before that, he was an auxiliary bishop in São Paulo from 2001 to 2007. He also worked in the Roman Curia, which is like the central government of the Catholic Church, from 1994 to 2001.
Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2007. Cardinal Scherer was considered a possible leader to become the next Pope in 2013. In 2014, when he was supposed to retire at age 75, Pope Francis asked him to continue serving for two more years. People describe him as a smart leader who understands money and economics well. He is also known for being thoughtful and calm.
Contents
About Cardinal Scherer
Early Life and Education
Odilo Pedro Scherer was born in Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was one of eleven children in his family. His family was part of the German Brazilian community. His great-grandfather came from Germany in the 1880s. Odilo was originally named "Otto" but preferred "Odilo" because it sounded softer. His uncle, Alfredo Scherer, was also a cardinal and an archbishop.
Odilo Scherer studied in seminaries, which are schools for people who want to become priests. He studied philosophy and theology. On December 7, 1976, he became a priest.
After becoming a priest, he worked in different roles. He was a rector (a leader) and a professor at seminaries. He also served as a parish priest, helping people in local churches. He even worked as a priest during holidays in Germany. He continued his studies, earning a doctorate and a master's degree in theology and philosophy from a university in Rome.
In 1994, he started working for the Congregation for Bishops in the Vatican. This group helps the Pope choose new bishops. He stayed there until he became a bishop himself in 2001.
Becoming a Bishop and Archbishop
On November 28, 2001, Pope John Paul II chose Odilo Scherer to be an auxiliary bishop of São Paulo. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop. He became a bishop on February 2, 2002.
In May 2003, he was chosen as the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB). This is a group of all the bishops in Brazil. He was known for his good training and calm but firm leadership.
On March 21, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named him the Archbishop of São Paulo. This is a very important position in Brazil. He officially started this role on April 29, 2007. His appointment happened just before Pope Benedict's visit to Brazil. Cardinal Scherer welcomed Pope Benedict and traveled with him during his visit in May 2007.
As archbishop, he talked about important topics. He said that the Church should focus on helping poor people and social fairness. He also mentioned that church services should not be like shows.
A Cardinal's Role
On October 17, 2007, Pope Benedict announced that he would make Odilo Scherer a cardinal. Cardinals are special advisors to the Pope. He officially became a cardinal on November 24, 2007. He was given the title of cardinal-priest.
Cardinals have many responsibilities. Cardinal Scherer was appointed to a special commission that looked after the Vatican Bank. He also participated in meetings called the Synod of Bishops, where bishops from around the world discuss important Church matters.
Cardinal Scherer has often spoken about important social issues in Brazil. He has talked about the importance of protecting life. He has also argued that traditional religious symbols, like crucifixes in public places, do not go against the idea of separating church and state. He believes these symbols are part of Brazil's culture.
In 2010, when the Pope created a new group to promote evangelization (spreading the Christian message), Cardinal Scherer explained that it was to help the Church share its message around the world.
In 2013, Cardinal Scherer was one of the 115 cardinals who participated in the conclave to elect a new Pope after Pope Benedict XVI resigned. He was considered a possible candidate for Pope.
In 2016, during the health crisis caused by the Zika virus, Cardinal Scherer spoke about family planning methods. He said that couples know how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and that the Church allows for personal decisions in this area.
He has also faced political challenges in Brazil. He defended the Church's efforts to help poor people by distributing food. He said that helping the hungry is important and should not be turned into a political issue.
Since May 2019, Cardinal Scherer has been a representative for the Brazilian bishops to the Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELAM). He was also elected vice president of CELAM. In August 2020, Pope Francis named him a member of the Council for the Economy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Cardinal Scherer first tried to keep churches open with safety measures. But then he suspended all public church services to protect people's health. He defended this decision, even when some people disagreed.
In November 2023, he suspended a priest who refused to follow Church rules and called Cardinal Scherer and Pope Francis "heretics." Cardinal Scherer explained that following the rules of the Church, especially after the Second Vatican Council, is important for unity.
Cardinal Scherer turned 75 in September 2024, which is when bishops usually offer their resignation. However, Pope Francis asked him to continue serving as Archbishop of São Paulo for two more years.
Cardinal Scherer was one of the 133 cardinal electors who participated in the 2025 papal conclave, which elected Pope Leo XIV.
He is also a Grand Prior of the São Paulo Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, which is a Catholic order that supports Christians in the Holy Land.
Writings
Cardinal Scherer has written several books, including:
- Justo sofredor: uma interpretação do caminho de Jesus e do discípulo, Ed. Loyola, 1995.
- Reflexões sobre Fé e Política, Edições CNBB, 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Odilo Scherer para niños
