Archbishop of Montes Claros
Archbishop José Carlos de Souza Campos, Archbishop of Montes Claros, was born on March 3, 1968, in Itaúna, in the Diocese of Divinópolis. He attended the philosophy course at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte (1986-1988) and the theology course at the Coração Eucarístico de Jesus Provincial Seminary of the Ecclesiastical Province of Belo Horizonte (1989-1992), and later obtained a licentiate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (2000-2002). He was ordained a priest for Divinópolis on May 30, 1993. He then served as diocesan coordinator of catechetical ministry (1992-1997); parish priest of Senhor Bom Jesus at Pedra do Indaiá (1993-1994); parochial vicar of Nossa Senhora da Guia in Divinópolis (1993-1994); parish priest of Nossa Senhora Aparecida in Divinópolis (1994-1998); chancellor (1996-1998); coordinator of the Rumo ao Novo Milênio project (1997-2000); parish priest of Nossa Senhora de Fátima at Itaúna (1998-2000); professor of philosophy at the São José Diocesan Seminary (2003-2008); parish priest of Sant'Ana at Itaúna (2003-2004); administrator of São Judas Tadeu in Divinópolis (2004-2011); parish priest of the cathedral of Divinópolis from 2011; and vicar general of the Diocese of Divinópolis (2009-2012). He also served as representative of the priests, a member of the council of formators, of the presbyteral council and of the college of consultors, and as professor of religious anthropology and fundamental theology in various centres of study. On November 6, 2012, he was appointed Administrator of Divinópolis. On February 26, 2014, he was appointed Bishop of Divinópolis. He received episcopal ordination on May 25, 2014, at Divinópolis, with Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo as principal consecrator and José Belvino do Nascimento and Tarcísio Nascentes dos Santos as co-consecrators. On December 14, 2022, he was appointed Archbishop of Montes Claros, and he was installed on February 18, 2023.