Archbishop of Campinas
João Inácio Müller was born in 1960 in Santa Clara do Sul, in the diocese of Santa Cruz do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul. He studied philosophy at the “Imaculada Conceição” Faculty of Philosophy of Viamão-RS, in the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, and theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and in the Studium Theologicum in Jerusalem. He then obtained a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome. He gave his vows in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor on 14 April 1985 and was ordained a priest on 3 December 1988. He has held a number of roles within his Order, including vocational promoter, formator in the São Francisco de Assis Seminary in Taquari-RS, archdiocese of Porto Alegre; member of the council of Formation and of the Fraternity of the Minor Seminary of Arroio do Meio-RS, diocese of Santa Cruz do Sul; guardian of the São Boaventura Convent; parish vicar; master of novices; provincial secretary of formation; provincial definitor; vicar of the fraternity; provincial of the São Francisco de Assis of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. On 25 September 2013 he was appointed as bishop of Lorena and received episcopal ordination the following 15 December.