Cardinal Jaime Spengler, the Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil, is a progressive-leaning Franciscan prelate who has expressed openness to the idea of ordaining married men as priests and responded positively to Fiducia Supplicans, the 2023 declaration on same sex blessings.

Born of German descent on September 6, 1960, in Gaspar, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Spengler joined the Order of Friars Minor, taking his first vows in 1983 and his solemn vows in 1985. He was ordained priest on November 17, 1990.

Spengler’s academic background includes a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontificul University Antonianum in Rome. In the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception of Brazil, he served as professor in the Franciscan Novitiate at Rodeio, master of postulants (1990), and a variety of other diocesan roles from 1991 to 2010, including parish vicar, professor and vice rector, and vice president of a Franciscan association.

On November 10, 2010, he was appointed titular Bishop of Patara and Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre by Pope Benedict XVI and was consecrated the following February. Three years later, on September 18, 2013, Pope Francis appointed Spengler Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre.

Spengler has also been appointed to several important roles within the Church hierarchy. He was elected president of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB) in April 2023 and, shortly after, became President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) for a four-year term until 2027.

Pope Francis elevated Spengler to the cardinalate on December 7, 2024.

Spengler has been involved in some controversial discussions within the Church. He has expressed openness to the idea of ordaining married men as priests to address the shortage of clergy in certain regions, particularly in the Amazon. Spengler stated that the issue is “delicate” but emphasized the need for “frankness and openness” in addressing it.

He has also confirmed plans for a trial run of an Amazonian rite of the Mass, which aims to incorporate local cultural elements into the liturgy.

Spengler appears to be a strong proponent of synodality. He has described the Synod on Synodality as “an opportunity to rescue the main lines of the Second Vatican Council” and emphasized the importance of implementing the Council Fathers’ intuitions. He encourages bishops not to fear controversies, viewing them as part of the synodal process.

The cardinal also seemed approving of Fiducia Supplicans: “I ask a very simple question, which guides me and also guides my actions: are they people? If they are people, they deserve our respect too,” he said. “And when they come to us asking for a blessing, I imagine that they are also looking for a word of comfort, of hope and perhaps even the desire to cope with their own situation. We can’t deny that!”

He added: “But we also can’t agree, so to speak, with behavior that goes against what for us are fundamental values: respect for others, respect for one’s own body, respect for one’s own individuality.”

Cardinal Spengler is known to take a cautious and diplomatic approach to controversial issues, focusing on unity and dialogue within the Church rather than making definitive statements on divisive topics.