Bishop Luiz Antônio Lopes Ricci

Bishop Luiz Antônio Lopes Ricci was born on 16 May 1966 in Bauru, in the diocese of the same name, in the State of São Paulo. He studied philosophy at the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Provincial Seminary in Marília-SP and theology at the Instituto Teológico Rainha dos Apóstolos in Marília-SP. He was awarded a doctorate in moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. He was ordained a priest on 10 July 1997 and incardinated in the diocese of Bauru. He has held the following offices: vice rector and then rector of the seminary of the Ecclesiastical Province of Botucatu in Marília-SP; parish administrator of Senhor Bom Jesus do Mirante in Cabrália Paulista-SP and of Santa Maria in Piratininga-SP; parish priest of São Cristóvão in Bauru; spiritual assistant of the Encontro de Casais com Cristo Movement; diocesan pastoral coordinator; vicar general; member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors; and professor and director of the Faculdade João Paulo II-FAJOPA in Marília-SP. On 10 May 2017 he was appointed titular bishop of Tindari and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Niterói, receiving episcopal ordination the following 16 July. On 6 May 2020 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Nova Friburgo, Brazil, and transferred from the titular see of Tindari and the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Niterói. Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, he was been a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith.