Archbishop of Paraíba
Manoel Delson Pedreira da Cruz, O.F.M.Cap., was born on July 10, 1954, in Biritinga, in the Diocese of Serrinha (then part of the Archdiocese of Feira de Santana), in the State of Bahia. He made his religious profession as a Capuchin Friar Minor on January 17, 1978, and was ordained a priest on July 5, 1980. He completed his philosophical studies in Nova Veneza (São Paulo) and his theological studies at the Institute of Theology of the University of São Salvador da Bahia. He subsequently earned a degree in Classical Letters from the Catholic University of São Salvador da Bahia and a Licentiate in Social Communication Sciences from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. Within the Capuchin Order, he served as a formator, Provincial Minister, and General Councilor for Latin America. On July 5, 2006, he was appointed Bishop of Caicó and received episcopal ordination on September 24 of that same year.