Background
Agnelo was born in Juiz de Fora.
Agnelo was born in Juiz de Fora.
He is Archbishop Emeritus of São Salvador da Bahia and Primate Emeritus of Brazil. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of São Paulo on 29 June 1957, and holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Street Anselm, Rome. Agnelo was director of the philosophical seminary, Aparecida.
He was spiritual director and professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Ipiranga.
He was professor of liturgical and sacramental theology at Pius XI Theological Institute, and rector of Our Lady of the Assumption Seminary. On 5 May 1978, Agnelo was appointed the second of Toledo, Paraná, and was consecrated on 6 August.
On 4 October 1982, he was promoted to Archbishop of Londrina. Agnelo was President of the Brazilian s" Liturgical Commission.
On 16 September 1991, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Agnelo was named Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on 13 January 1999. In May 1999 Agnelo was nominated Vice President of the General Conference of Latin American s (Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano). He was Elected president of the National Conference of Brazilian s in May 2003, and was made -Priest of San Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova (Street Gregory the Great at Magliana Nuova) by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001.
Agnelo was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI, and was considered papabile himself at the time.
Agnelo resigned as Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on 12 January 2011, and was succeeded by Murilo Sebastião Ramos Krieger. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.
Curial Membership: Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church 2005 conclave Catholic-Lutheran dialogue Abortion.
In April 2005, he said that he was very happy at the selection of Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope of the Catholic Church.
Agnelo has supported efforts to improve dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics.
Agnelo expressed concern with Brazilian politicians over a plan to legalize abortion in the country.