Hélder Câmara

Dom Hélder Câmara (February 7th 1909, Fortaleza, Brazil - August 27th 1999, Recife) was archbishop of Olinda and Recife.

Wire of João Câmara Filho and Adelaide Pessoa Câmara, Dom Hélder was ordered priest on August 15th, 1931, with Fortaleza. It was named auxiliary bishop of Rio de Janeiro on March 3rd, 1952 and was ordered bishop on April 20th, 1952 by Mgr Jaime de Barros Câmara. March 12th, 1964, it is promoted archbishop of Olinda and Recife, in the Nordeste, one of the poorest areas of Brazil. It will remain it until April 2nd, 1985.

Defender of the human rights to Brazil and one of the figures of the Theology of the release in Latin America, it engages at the sides of poorest. In 1955, it takes part in the creation of the episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM). Near to the Montini cardinal, future Paul VI, it takes an active part in the Council the Vatican II, being opposed firmly to the preserving tendency. Within CELAM, it contributes to the definition of " the preferential option for the pauvres".

Marginalized in the Brazilian episcopate (CNB) and opposing to the dictatorship generals (1964-1985), it makes conference series in Europe and especially in France (1970, Sport hall, 1983 with the Life ), during which it denounces the situation of poverty of the third world, the sales of weapons to its country, the war of Vietnam and the violence of the Brazilian dictatorship.

Near to the non-violent movements and referring to Gandhi and Martin Luther King, it sets up pastoral directed towards the service of the poor, which is based on the movement Action Justice and Peace (cf Spirale of violence , Paris, 1970) and on a popular seminar in which it wishes that the future priests be as well trained with the social action as with theology. In 1977, it takes part in the Conference of the bishops of Latin America on non-violence.

It is made doctor honoris causa universities of Leuven (1970), Chicago (1974), Amsterdam (1975) and Uppsala (1977).

Jean-Paul II pays to him homage at the time of its voyage to Brazil in 1979 but names him, in 1985, a successor who undertakes to make clean slate of all his pastoral action liberationnist.

Its engagement was worth to him many criticisms of the Brazilian middle-class. What made him say: " When I nourished the poor, they say that I am a saint. But when I ask why the poor do not have food, they treat me communiste".

Distinctions

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