Bishop of Patos de Minas
Cláudio Nori Sturm, O.F.M. Cap., was born on May 12, 1953, in Ubiretama (RS), in the municipality of Giruá and the Diocese of Santo Ângelo. He completed his primary education in Iporã (1961–1966) and his secondary education at the Santa Maria Seminary in Capinzal-Engenheiro Gutierrez (1968–1974); he attended Philosophy and Theology courses in Ponta Grossa while simultaneously completing higher studies in Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianópolis (1975–1980) and in Theology at the "Nossa Senhora da Assunção" Pontifical Faculty in São Paulo (1993). Sent to Rome, he obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1983–1986) and later pursued specialized studies in Theology in Switzerland (1999–2001). He began his novitiate on March 3, 1974, made his first religious profession on March 2, 1975, and his perpetual profession on October 28, 1978; he was ordained a priest on January 6, 1980. Following his priestly ordination, he held the following positions: teacher of Literature and Pedagogy (1980–1981); Professor and Director of the Institute of Philosophy in Ponta Grossa (1985–1994); Rector of the "San Lorenzo da Brindisi" International Capuchin College in Rome (1994–1999), while also serving as a member of the General Secretariat for Formation; Professor of Philosophy and Guardian of the "Bom Jesus" Fraternity in Ponta Grossa (2001–2005); Parochial Vicar and Parish Priest of the "Imaculada Conceição" parish in the same diocese (2001–2005); Definitor and Provincial Vicar (2004–2006); and, until recently, Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Province of Paraná–Santa Catarina.