Bishop of Petrópolis
Dom Joel was born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) on October 2, 1954. He studied Philosophy at the Aloisian Institute of the Society of Jesus and Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), where he earned his doctorate in Theology. He also studied Law at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). He was ordained a priest on October 12, 1982, in Rio de Janeiro. On December 7, 2016, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro by Pope Francis, receiving episcopal ordination on January 28, 2017, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. Since then, he has served as an auxiliary bishop of that archdiocese. As a priest, Dom Joel served as: Parish Priest of the Jesus Risen (Jesus Ressuscitado) and Our Lady of Victory (Nossa Senhora da Vitória) parishes (1982–1991); Parish Priest of Our Lady of Victory Parish (1991–2014); Vicar Forane, member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors, Pastoral Coordinator, and Vicar General. He was a member of the INP – National Pastoral Institute (2008–2012); a member of the CELAM theological-pastoral reflection team (2014–2016); a member of the Metropolitan Chapter; and was named Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI. He is also a member of the Luso-Brazilian Academy of Letters (2014–2016) and served as Parish Priest of the Cathedral of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro (2016). He was a professor at the Higher Institute of Theology of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro for 30 years, and a member of the Organizing Commission for drafting the CNBB Guidelines for the Church's Evangelizing Action in Brazil (2019–2023). Work with the CNBB: During the 57th General Assembly of the CNBB, held in May 2019 in Aparecida (SP), he was elected Secretary-General of the CNBB for the 2019–2023 term. As Secretary-General, Dom Joel led the CNBB and ensured the pastoral animation of the Church in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic, notably coordinating the "É Tempo de Cuidar" (Time to Care) emergency initiative. He also played a key role in driving the Synod process in Brazil, hosting the Southern Cone meeting of the Synod’s Continental Stage in Brasília (DF) in March 2023; he coordinated Edições CNBB, chaired the Management Council of the National Solidarity Fund, and was instrumental in modernizing management at both the headquarters and branch offices. At the 60th CNBB General Assembly in April 2023, Dom Joel was elected to chair the CNBB’s Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith for the 2023–2027 term.