Bishop Walter Jorge Pinto

Dom Walter Jorge Pinto is a native of the city of Ubá (MG). He was born on February 12, 1963. He entered the São José Seminary in the Archdiocese of Mariana in 1996, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He validated his Theology studies at the Higher Education Center of Juiz de Fora (MG) through the Santo Antônio Seminary of the Archdiocese of Juiz de Fora. An agronomist by training—having graduated from the Federal University of Viçosa (MG)—he also holds a master's degree in Plant Science. Ordained a deacon in 2001, he received priestly ordination on June 1 of the following year at the hands of the Servant of God Dom Luciano Pedro Mendes de Almeida in the Archdiocese of Mariana. During his priestly ministry, Dom Jorge served as pastor of São João Batista Parish in Viçosa; parish administrator of São Sebastião Parish in Pedra do Anta (MG); parochial vicar at Nossa Senhora de Fátima Parish in Viçosa; and pastor of São José Operário Parish in the city of Barbacena. He was a member of the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Mariana and an advisor for Family Ministry. He served as an episcopal vicar for three years. He also acted as a representative of the presbyterate, a member of the Presbyteral Council, a regional advisor for the Vocational Animation Service, and a Defender of the Bond at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Mariana. On January 9, 2019, he was appointed by Pope Francis as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of União da Vitória (PR). His episcopal ordination took place on March 30 of that year, performed by the Archbishop of Mariana, Dom Airton José dos Santos, at the Church of São João Batista in Viçosa (MG). Dom Walter chose *Propter Iesum et Evangelium* (For Jesus and the Gospel) as his episcopal motto.