Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Archbishop emeritus of São Paulo, Brazil, was born in August 1934 in Montenegro, Brazil. He was ordained for the Franciscans on August 3, 1958 and holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Antonianum, Rome, and a specialization in ecumenism from the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland.
He taught philosophy at the Franciscan seminary in Garibaldi, at the major seminary of Viamão and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre. He was adviser for ecumenical affairs to the National Bishops' Conference of Brazil, Provincial of Rio Grande do Sul (1972-1975) and president of the Union of Latin American Conferences of Franciscans.
On March 22, 1975 he was nominated titular Bishop of Carcabia and Coadjutor Bishop of Santo André and received episcopal ordination on May 25. He became Diocesan Bishop of the see on December 29.
On May 29, 1996 he was promoted to Archbishop of Fortaleza and was transferred to São Paulo on April 15, 1998.
On October 31, 2006, he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of February 21, 2001, of the Title of S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana (St. Anthony of Padua in Via Merulana).
Member of:
- Congregations: for the Doctrine of the Faith; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; for Bishops; for Catholic Education;
- Pontifical Councils: for the Laity; for the Family; Cor Unum; for Inter-religious Dialogue; for Culture;
- Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
