Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia, and Primate of Brazil, was born on October 19, 1933 in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of São Paulo on June 29, 1957 and holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St Anselm, Rome.
He was director of the philosophical seminary, Aparecida, spiritual director and professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Ipiranga, professor of liturgical and sacramental theology at Pius XI Theological Institute and rector of Our Lady of the Assumption Seminary.
On May 5, 1978 he was appointed Bishop of Toledo and received episcopal ordination on August 6. On October 4, 1982 he was promoted to Archbishop of Londrina. He was President of the Brazilian Bishops' Liturgical Commission. On September 16, 1991 he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was named Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on January 13, 1999.
In May 1999 he was nominated Vice President of CELAM. Elected president of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops in May of 2003.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of February 21, 2001. Titular church, St. Gregory the Great at Magliana Nuova.
Curial Membership:
Migrant and Itinerant Peoples (council)
Cultural Heritage of the Church (commission)
He was considered papabile for the Papal Conclave, 2005.