Paulo Evaristo Arns
Encyclopedia
Paulo Evaristo Arns O.F.M. (born September 14, 1921 in Forquilhinha
) is the Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo
.
immigrants Gabriel and Helana Arns. Three of his sisters would later become nun
s and one of his brothers a Franciscan
. One of his sisters, Zilda Arns
, a pediatrician who founded the Brazilian bishops' children's commission, was reportedly killed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
.
On December 10, 1943, at the age of 18, Arns joined the Franciscans; he was ordained a priest on November 30, 1945.
From 1941 to 1943 Arns studied philosophy
in Curitiba
and then theology
from 1944 to 1947 in Petrópolis
. Then he attended the Sorbonne
in Paris
studying literature
, Latin
, Greek
, and ancient history
, he graduated with a doctorate in classical languages in 1946. Arns later returned to the Sorbonne
to study for a D.Litt.
, he obtained his doctorate in 1950 for a dissertation written about Saint Jerome
.
Prior to his episcopal consecration Arns carried out various educational roles in a number of institutions throughout Brazil. He spent a significant amount of time serving as a professor
at the seminary of Agudos in São Paulo
, lecturing on the faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Bauru furthermore, he had responsibilities at a number of other higher education institutes (normally being on the faculty), finally becoming a professor at the Catholic University of Petropolis, this being the last academic office he held before becoming a bishop.
Dr Arns had also been elected to the vice-provincial of the province of the Immaculate Conception of the Friars Minor. He was the director of the monthly review for religious Sponsa Christi.
of Respetta and then appointed archbishop
of São Paulo
on October 22, 1970. In the consistory
on March 5, 1973, Pope Paul VI
made him a Cardinal-Priest
of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana
. As Archbishop he sold the Pius XII
episcopal palace, a mansion standing in its own park. Two things horrified him, one was the massive electricity bills, and the other was the staff - 25 sisters and brothers all to look after one man. Indeed, at the beginning of his term as archbishop he decided to take the unprecedented step and sell the Episcopal Palace, using the money to build a social station in the favela
s.
, claiming that it was an unnecessary rule without biblical basis. He further criticised Pope John Paul II
for having prohibited a proper debate on the matter.
, notably the leadership style of Pope John Paul II. Arns expressed shock at the behaviour of the Vatican in attempting to control the activities of priests and remove those who did not act in the appropriate manner.
Later Arns stated that he felt that the Roman Curia holds too much influence and should not have been given a free rein by the pope. Arns criticised the Curia for not promoting diversity of opinion within the Church, and for lacking an ecumenical attitude. Arns, with Archbishop John R. Quinn
of San Francisco
criticised the bureaucracy of the church, stating that his impression was that "the curia is governing the church", further, that he 'strongly disagreed' with the Pope's understanding that "the curia is the pope".
, producing letters from the Roman Curia
that he believed were evidence that Boff was treated unfairly.
schools and hospitals in central areas of the city to the millions of marginalised people living on the periphery. This passion for the marginalised, with his lack of concern for other matters, caused Arns to receive bitter criticism from some Catholics, and to an extent split the opinion of bishops in Brazil.
because of his tireless campaigning for human rights
.
Arns himself must be reckoned a significant cause of the military withdrawal and return of civilian government in Brazil. During the dictatorship he visited political prisoner
s speaking out against the abuses of the military. Prior to governmental change in 1985, Arns had, with the assistance of the Presbyterian minister Jaime Wright, photocopied the military government's records on torture, and then smuggled the copies out to have them published, the book Brazil Never Again which was based on this evidence became a bestseller and began the widespread move for change in Brazil.
Arns himself led many direct campaigns against the dictatorship in Brazil. Shortly after taking office he learnt that a young priest had been arrested and detained after his home was raided by secret police, the priest being arrested for having possession of documentation encouraging rebellion, Arns wrote to the Governor of São Paulo, then when he was denied entrance to the prison holding the detainee Arns used the Archdiocese's radio service and newspaper to denounce the events, also choosing to have a description of the arrest and torture nailed to the door of every church. One reporter for the National Catholic Reporter
described the occurrence as the beginning of “an open war between the archdiocese and the military.”
nun Sister Maurina
, Arns led several campaigns against the use of torture during the military dictatorship, and pursued the topic to the extent of forcing the Brazilian conference of bishops to make it a priority. Speaking out on the matter frequently, the New York Times described Arns' analysis of the affairs as "the strongest, most courageous affirmation ever made by a Brazilian prelate against the torture of prisoners". Arns had managed the project Tortura Nunca Mais (Never Again Torture) at the end of the 1970s.
, "if they can find meat to eat, which is rare, they should eat it, and do some good work to mark the day, because not eating meat is not the point" He defended his position by saying that "Canon law
gives me full power to dispense people from abstinence
; there is no problem".
n President Fidel Castro
. Writing on the 30th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, Arns addressed his letter to "dearest Fidel", informing Castro that he is "present daily in my prayers" and that he [Arns] "ask[s] the Father that he always concede you the grace of guiding the destinies of your country". Arns also articulated his wish that Castro always govern over Cuba. Provoking fierce reaction, Arns was subject to criticism from the conservative publications of Brazil's media, and numerous bishops, including Eugênio de Araújo Sales
of Rio de Janeiro
, the most prominent conservative ordinary in the Brazilian church. However, Arns was in turn defended by his admirers, notably former priest Leonardo Boff
.
, George W. Bush
. Condemning the interventionist foreign policy of the Bush administration, Arns expressed his wish that "a peaceful way" could be pursued by the United States.
on the his 75th birthday in 1996. He did not take part in the 2005 conclave because he had already passed the age limit of 80 years.
Following his retirement Arns has held the UNESCO
Chair for Peace Education, Human Rights, Democracy and Tolerance at the State University of São Paulo, returning to the educational role he left behind upon taking episcopal office.
Forquilhinha
Forquilhinha is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. As of 2004, it has a population of 20,549 inhabitants. It covers an area of 184,557 km² at an altitude of 42 meters above sea level...
) is the Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Paulo
The Archdiocese of São Paulo is a major see in the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil. The Diocese of São Paulo was erected by Pope Benedict XIV on 6 December 1745. It became an Archdiocese on 7 June 1908...
.
Early life and education
Paulo Arns was born as the fifth of thirteen children of the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigrants Gabriel and Helana Arns. Three of his sisters would later become nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s and one of his brothers a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
. One of his sisters, Zilda Arns
Zilda Arns
Zilda Arns Neumann was a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Brazilian pediatrician and aid worker.A sister of Cardinal Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, the former Archbishop of São Paulo known for his efforts against the Brazilian military dictatorship, Zilda Arns became internationally known by founding a...
, a pediatrician who founded the Brazilian bishops' children's commission, was reportedly killed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
.
On December 10, 1943, at the age of 18, Arns joined the Franciscans; he was ordained a priest on November 30, 1945.
From 1941 to 1943 Arns studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
and then theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from 1944 to 1947 in Petrópolis
Petrópolis
Petrópolis , also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 65 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro....
. Then he attended the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
studying literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, and ancient history
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
, he graduated with a doctorate in classical languages in 1946. Arns later returned to the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
to study for a D.Litt.
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
, he obtained his doctorate in 1950 for a dissertation written about Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is a Christian church father, best known for translating the Bible into Latin.Saint Jerome may also refer to:*Jerome of Pavia , Bishop of Pavia...
.
Prior to his episcopal consecration Arns carried out various educational roles in a number of institutions throughout Brazil. He spent a significant amount of time serving as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the seminary of Agudos in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, lecturing on the faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Bauru furthermore, he had responsibilities at a number of other higher education institutes (normally being on the faculty), finally becoming a professor at the Catholic University of Petropolis, this being the last academic office he held before becoming a bishop.
Dr Arns had also been elected to the vice-provincial of the province of the Immaculate Conception of the Friars Minor. He was the director of the monthly review for religious Sponsa Christi.
Bishop
On May 2, 1966, Arns was consecrated titular bishopTitular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Respetta and then appointed archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
on October 22, 1970. In the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
on March 5, 1973, Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
made him a Cardinal-Priest
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana
Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana
The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua on Via Tuscolana is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, built for the religious congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, to whose founder Saint Annibale Maria di Francia is co-concercrated the church along with Saint Anthony of Padua...
. As Archbishop he sold the Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
episcopal palace, a mansion standing in its own park. Two things horrified him, one was the massive electricity bills, and the other was the staff - 25 sisters and brothers all to look after one man. Indeed, at the beginning of his term as archbishop he decided to take the unprecedented step and sell the Episcopal Palace, using the money to build a social station in the favela
Favela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
s.
Clerical celibacy
Having garnered a reputation for being one of the more liberal of Cardinals and bishops within the hierarchy of the church, Arns frequently expressed viewpoints that did not necessarily cohere with the official position of the Church. In 2002, he became one of the highest ranking members of the church to express publicly disagreement with the church position of clerical celibacyCelibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
, claiming that it was an unnecessary rule without biblical basis. He further criticised Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
for having prohibited a proper debate on the matter.
Roman Curia
Toward the end of his time as Archbishop of São Paulo Arns gained notoriety due to his criticism of the hierarchy and governance of the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, notably the leadership style of Pope John Paul II. Arns expressed shock at the behaviour of the Vatican in attempting to control the activities of priests and remove those who did not act in the appropriate manner.
Later Arns stated that he felt that the Roman Curia holds too much influence and should not have been given a free rein by the pope. Arns criticised the Curia for not promoting diversity of opinion within the Church, and for lacking an ecumenical attitude. Arns, with Archbishop John R. Quinn
John R. Quinn
John Raphael Quinn is a Roman Catholic bishop, currently the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of San Francisco; he served as the archdiocese's sixth archbishop from 1977 to 1995...
of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
criticised the bureaucracy of the church, stating that his impression was that "the curia is governing the church", further, that he 'strongly disagreed' with the Pope's understanding that "the curia is the pope".
Liberation theology
He defended the liberation theologian and former Catholic priest Leonardo BoffLeonardo Boff
Leonardo Boff was born 14 December 1938 in Concórdia, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. He is a theologian, philosopher and writer, known for his active support for the rights of the poor and excluded....
, producing letters from the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
that he believed were evidence that Boff was treated unfairly.
Archdiocese of São Paulo
Another matter that Arns was critical of was the division of the Archdiocese of São Paulo. Arns felt that the manner in which his plan had been executed had ensured its failure, remarking on the event that "everything I asked for was disregarded and the traditionalist line prevailed. It was our wish that a different way of dealing with pastoral activities in the metropolitan regions be adopted, but the Roman curia, treating this just as any other matter, paid no heed for it... because of the way it was done, the church in São Paulo is spending 10 times more in order to produce results which are 10 times smaller".Preferential option for the poor
Dr Arns had always encouraged a preferential option for the oppressed and poor within a society, encouraging religious orders in São Paulo to transfer their energies from middle classMiddle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
schools and hospitals in central areas of the city to the millions of marginalised people living on the periphery. This passion for the marginalised, with his lack of concern for other matters, caused Arns to receive bitter criticism from some Catholics, and to an extent split the opinion of bishops in Brazil.
Opposition to the military dictatorship
Arns swiftly earned respect within Brazil because of his unwillingness to remain silent about his contempt for the dictatorship. He became one of the most popular clergymen of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
because of his tireless campaigning for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
Arns himself must be reckoned a significant cause of the military withdrawal and return of civilian government in Brazil. During the dictatorship he visited political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s speaking out against the abuses of the military. Prior to governmental change in 1985, Arns had, with the assistance of the Presbyterian minister Jaime Wright, photocopied the military government's records on torture, and then smuggled the copies out to have them published, the book Brazil Never Again which was based on this evidence became a bestseller and began the widespread move for change in Brazil.
Arns himself led many direct campaigns against the dictatorship in Brazil. Shortly after taking office he learnt that a young priest had been arrested and detained after his home was raided by secret police, the priest being arrested for having possession of documentation encouraging rebellion, Arns wrote to the Governor of São Paulo, then when he was denied entrance to the prison holding the detainee Arns used the Archdiocese's radio service and newspaper to denounce the events, also choosing to have a description of the arrest and torture nailed to the door of every church. One reporter for the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
described the occurrence as the beginning of “an open war between the archdiocese and the military.”
Use of torture
After the arrest and torture of Ribeirão PretoRibeirão Preto
Ribeirão Preto is a municipality and city in the Northeastern region of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is nicknamed Brazilian California, because of a combination of an economy based on agrobusiness plus high technology, wealth and sunny weather all year long. With 605,114 inhabitants,...
nun Sister Maurina
Sister Maurina
Sister Maurina, O.S.F., Sister Maurina, O.S.F., Sister Maurina, O.S.F., (born Maurina Borges da Silveira (1926-2011) was a Brazilian Roman Catholic Franciscan Sister. She was the only Religious Sister to be arrested and tortured during the period of Brazil's military dictatorship (1964–1985)....
, Arns led several campaigns against the use of torture during the military dictatorship, and pursued the topic to the extent of forcing the Brazilian conference of bishops to make it a priority. Speaking out on the matter frequently, the New York Times described Arns' analysis of the affairs as "the strongest, most courageous affirmation ever made by a Brazilian prelate against the torture of prisoners". Arns had managed the project Tortura Nunca Mais (Never Again Torture) at the end of the 1970s.
Eating meat on Ash Wednesday
Typical of his commitment to the wellbeing of the impoverished, and also an example of his dividing the Bishops Conference, Arns told the impoverished that on Ash WednesdayAsh Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...
, "if they can find meat to eat, which is rare, they should eat it, and do some good work to mark the day, because not eating meat is not the point" He defended his position by saying that "Canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
gives me full power to dispense people from abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
; there is no problem".
Fidel Castro
Arns did not shy away from controversy relating to his perceived left wing politics. In 1989 he angered many, primarily conservatives, because of his praise of the CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n President Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. Writing on the 30th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, Arns addressed his letter to "dearest Fidel", informing Castro that he is "present daily in my prayers" and that he [Arns] "ask[s] the Father that he always concede you the grace of guiding the destinies of your country". Arns also articulated his wish that Castro always govern over Cuba. Provoking fierce reaction, Arns was subject to criticism from the conservative publications of Brazil's media, and numerous bishops, including Eugênio de Araújo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales is, as of 2011, the longest-serving cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, having been elevated by Pope Paul VI on April 28, 1969. He served as archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro for thirty years until his resignation was accepted in 2001, when he had already...
of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, the most prominent conservative ordinary in the Brazilian church. However, Arns was in turn defended by his admirers, notably former priest Leonardo Boff
Leonardo Boff
Leonardo Boff was born 14 December 1938 in Concórdia, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. He is a theologian, philosopher and writer, known for his active support for the rights of the poor and excluded....
.
George W. Bush
Arns also expressed a political opinion in criticising the President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Condemning the interventionist foreign policy of the Bush administration, Arns expressed his wish that "a peaceful way" could be pursued by the United States.
Retirement
Cardinal Arns retired at the age of almost 77 on April 15, 1998, becoming Archbishop Emeritus, after he had already sought and received the right to retire from Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on the his 75th birthday in 1996. He did not take part in the 2005 conclave because he had already passed the age limit of 80 years.
Following his retirement Arns has held the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Chair for Peace Education, Human Rights, Democracy and Tolerance at the State University of São Paulo, returning to the educational role he left behind upon taking episcopal office.
Awards
- Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights AwardLetelier-Moffitt Human Rights AwardThe Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award is awarded annually by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies. It is awarded to those advancing the cause of human rights in the Americas. The Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award commemorates Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt, who in 1976...
(1982) - Nansen Refugee AwardNansen Refugee AwardThe Nansen Refugee Award formerly known as the Nansen Medal is given annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to individuals or groups in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees. It is one of the most prestigious awards in the United Nations system...
(1985) - Niwano Peace PrizeNiwano Peace PrizeNiwano Peace Prize is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known...
(1995)
Written works
- A quem iremos, Senhor? - To Whom Shall We Go, Lord?
- A humanidade caminha para a fraternidade - Humanity on the Road toward Fraternity
- Paul VI: voce é contra ou a favor? - Paul VI: Are you for or against?
- Cartas de Santo Inácio: Introdução, Tradução e Notas - Letters of Saint Ignatius: Introduction, Translation, and Notes
- Cartas de São Clemente Romano: Introdução, Tradução e Notas - Letters of St. Clement of Rome: Introduction, Translation, and Notes
- A guerra acabará se você quiser - Wars Will End If You Want
- Comunidade: união e ação - Community: Union and Action
- Da Esperança a Utopia - The Hope of Utopia (Autobiography)
Translated
- A Corresponsabilidade na Igreja de hoje - The Coresponsibility of the Church today - Cardinal Suenens
- Nova História da Igreia" - A New History of the Church - Cardinal Danielou.
Honorary degrees
- Universidade Brasil
- Universidade Católica de Goiás
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- Catholic UniversityCatholic UniversityA Catholic University is a private university run by the Catholic Church or by Catholic organizations like religious institutes. Those with closer ties to the Holy See are called pontifical universities....
Nijmegen NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...