Odilo Pedro Scherer was born on 21 September 1949 in São Francisco, Cerro Largo, Brazil. Ordained a priest on 7 December 1976, he holds a doctorate in theology and a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He served as rector and professor at seminaries in Cascavel and Toledo, as a parochial vicar and parish priest, and from 1994 to 2001 as an official of the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. He was appointed titular Bishop of Novi and auxiliary bishop of São Paulo on 28 November 2001 and was consecrated bishop on 2 February 2002 in Toledo. In May 2003 he was elected general secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), and on 12 December 2006 he was appointed adjunct general secretary of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops at Aparecida.
He succeeded Cardinal Cláudio Hummes as Archbishop of São Paulo on 21 March 2007 and was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on 24 November 2007, with the titular church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. He served as president-delegate of the 2008 Synod of Bishops on the Word of God and took part in the family synods of 2014 and 2015. He participated in the March 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis and was widely reported beforehand as a possible successor to Benedict XVI. He submitted his resignation on turning 75 in September 2024; according to Wikipedia, Pope Francis asked him to remain for two more years, and he continues in office — in March 2026 Pope Leo XIV also appointed him apostolic administrator of the apostolic exarchate for Armenian-rite faithful resident in Brazil. He is a member of the Council for the Economy and of the Dicasteries for the Clergy, for Culture and Education, and for Evangelization. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
The presence of the new communities and movements is a great treasure today for Latin America and the Church.
No. The position of the Magisterium of the Church regarding abortion is clear. Legalizing abortion in some cases means going against a basic principle: the human person, human life, must always be respected.
The Supreme Court's ruling will have consequences, as it will enshrine principles for future judicial cases. And so here's another question: after babies with anencephaly, what will be the next group of discomforting or unwanted people 'incompatible with life' on the list to be eliminated?
The protection of innocent and defenseless human life should be of interest to all, above any religious or ideological concepts, because it is a question of humanity and not of religion.
Voting should never be marked by hatred, anger or irresponsibility in regard to the common good. Voting is a matter of conscience, and the time has come for each one of us to play his part, so that Brazil may become a better nation following the elections. Ultimately, this is the one thing that matters.
The Church does not teach members to commit crimes, she does not approve of them or cover them up, and she is clear that each person must be accountable for his actions to God and to mankind's laws.
Major Works & Initiatives
Justo sofredor: uma interpretação do caminho de Jesus e do discípulo
Book published by Edições Loyola in 1995, listed among his principal works by the Archdiocese of São Paulo (via Wikipedia; archdiocesan page not fetched in this pass).
General Secretary, National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB)
Elected in May 2003; he also served as adjunct general secretary of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops at Aparecida in 2007 (Holy See Press Office biography).
Reflexões sobre Fé e Política
Book published by Edições CNBB in 2018, listed among his principal works by the Archdiocese of São Paulo (via Wikipedia; archdiocesan page not fetched in this pass).
Member, Council for the Economy
Member of the Council for the Economy and of the Dicasteries for the Clergy, for Culture and Education, and for Evangelization (Holy See Press Office biography); named to the Council for the Economy by Pope Francis on 6 August 2020 (Wikipedia).
Controversies
Support for a controversial food supplement for the poor (2017)
In October 2017 Scherer defended the Church's support for 'Alimento para Todos' (Food for All), a São Paulo city programme launched by Mayor João Doria that distributed a supplement made from food nearing its expiry date — processed with a flour known as farinata — to the poor and to schoolchildren. Critics derided the product as 'human kibble' and 'human pet food', nutritionists questioned whether it had been adequately tested, and prosecutors opened a probe into the plan. As reported by Crux at the time, Scherer rejected the comparison with animal food and defended the effort to feed the poor; the episode became a national debate about dignity and food policy.
Suspension of public Masses during COVID-19 (2020)
In March 2020, as COVID-19 reached Brazil, Scherer — after an initial hesitation shared by several Brazilian churchmen — suspended public Masses in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, following state-government and World Health Organization recommendations, while President Jair Bolsonaro minimized the health emergency and many of his evangelical allies pressed to keep churches open. He held to celebrating Mass without congregations even after a Supreme Court justice's April 2021 injunction permitted in-person worship, saying the archdiocese's attitude came from concern at a pandemic situation that had not changed. (Account drawn from contemporary reporting, including Catholic News Service via Angelus News, April 2021.)
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- CNA — Archbishop Sao Paulo calls movements 'great treasure' of Latin America, 28 May 2007
- CNA — Brazilian cardinal says after abortion for anencephaly babies others could be next, 19 September 2008
- CNA via BishopAccountability.org — Brazilian Cardinal: Church Does Not Deny or Cover up Abuse, 7 April 2010
- ACN International — Cardinal Archbishop of São Paulo warns: Voting must not be marked by hatred, anger or irresponsibility, 26 October 2018
- Holy See Press Office — Bollettino, resignations and appointments (Scherer named apostolic administrator for Armenian-rite faithful in Brazil), 2 March 2026