José Freire Falcão, 79

José Freire Cardinal Falcão

Function: Archbishop Emeritus of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Title: Cardinal Priest of S Luca a Via Prenestina

Birthdate: Oct 23, 1925	Country: Brazil

Elevated: Jun 28, 1988	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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José Freire Falcão, 79
Apr 12, 2005
This is another installment of biographical sketches of the cardinals who are eligible to have a role in electing the next pope.

Retired archbishop of Brasilia, Brazil

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 8, 2005 (Zenit.org).- José Freire Falcão was born Oct. 23, 1925, at Erere, Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte. In 1938 he entered the seminary of Prainha at Fortaleaz, where he did his higher studies, as well as philosophy and theology.

In June 1949 he was ordained a priest at Limoeiro do Norte. Immediately after he began his ministry as vicar of the cathedral. He was also vice director of the diocesan secondary school, professor at the minor seminary and in other schools, as well as the chaplain to Catholic Action.

In April 1967 he was named coadjutor bishop of Limoeiro do Norte, with the right of succession. He received episcopal ordination June 17, 1967, and two months later, on Aug. 19, he assumed the pastoral governance of the diocese. In November 1971 he was named archbishop of Teresina. In February 1984 he went to the Diocese of Brasilia.

He was a vice president of the Latin American bishops' council. He was elevated to cardinal in June 1988. He retired as archbishop of Brasilia in January 2004.

Curial membership:

* Health Care Workers (council)
* Council of Cardinals for Study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See

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