Bishop of Picos
Plínio José Luz da Silva was born in Pacoti, in the State of Ceará (Archdiocese of Fortaleza), on October 18, 1955. He completed his primary and secondary education in Fortaleza at the Castelo Branco College, the Prainha Seminary, and with the Salvatorian Fathers in Parangaba. He subsequently studied philosophy and theology at the Theological Institute of Fortaleza. In Rome, he attended a course on spirituality and missionary animation at the International Centre for Missionary Animation of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. After his ordination to the priesthood on December 16, 1984, he served as parish priest at São Francisco de Assis in Fortaleza, Nossa Senhora das Graças in Ideal, Nossa Senhora Imaculada in Redenção, and Nossa Senhora da Palma in Baturité. He served as Episcopal Vicar for the Serra Region and as a member of the Presbyteral and Pastoral Councils, and was responsible for pastoral work regarding missionary animation and social communications. On June 13, 2001, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Marazane and Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza, and was consecrated there on August 24 of that year.