Cardinal João Braz de Aviz is a progressive-leaning senior Vatican official who since 2012 has served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Born on April 24, 1947, in Brazil, he was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Apucarana, Parana, Brazil on April 26, 1972. Apucurana. He holds a license in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.

His leadership qualities were recognized early, leading to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Vitória, Espirito Santo on April 6, 1994. As his influence grew within the Church, he was appointed Archbishop of Brasília ten years later.

One of Cardinal Aviz’s significant accomplishments was organizing the XVI Eucharistic National Congress in Brasília in 2010. This event showcased his organizational skills and dedication to promoting Eucharistic devotion among the faithful.

In recognition of his service and leadership, João Braz de Aviz was elevated to the rank of Cardinal in 2012 by Benedict XVI. This appointment further solidified his position as a key figure in the Catholic Church hierarchy.

Appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in 2012 despite not being a member of a religious order, Cardinal Braz de Aviz has played a crucial role in overseeing matters related to religious orders and congregations within the Catholic Church, and in promoting vocations.

In his memoirs, Cardinal Franc Rodé (Braz de Aviz’s predecessor as prefect) expressed astonishment at his appointment, describing him as a “Focolarino fanatic” (member of the Focolare Movement).¹ Rode, Franc (2022). Vse je dar : spomini (in Slovenian). Celje: Celjska Mohorjeva družba. p. 637.

Since taking up the role, Aviz has been criticized by some for having a too conciliatory stance towards religious groups considered liberal or progressive, in contrast to the harder line of his predecessor.

He has also been both praised and criticized for his call for a wide-ranging review of structures of Church power. “We are in a moment of needing to review and revision some things,” Braz de Aviz said in 2013. “Obedience and authority must be renewed, re-visioned.” He added: “Authority that commands, kills […] Obedience that becomes a copy of what the other person says, infantilizes.”

Like Pope Francis, he is in favor of restricting the Traditional Latin Mass. In 2013, Cardinal Aviz was part of the leadership that implemented restrictions on the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (FFI), which included limiting their ability to celebrate the TLM. The decree required explicit authorization for FFI members to use the extraordinary form (Vetus Ordo).

In September 2024, Braz de Aviz announced that his dicastery would be undertaking an apostolic visitation of the traditional Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter “in order to deepen their knowledge” of the society of pontifical right and “to offer the most appropriate help in the path of following Christ.” Faithful within the traditional Catholic community view the visitation with trepidation given Traditionis Custodes and the cardinal’s own views on the TLM.

While not directly addressing the Vetus Ordo, Cardinal Braz de Aviz has emphasized the importance of “walking together” and a “new style” of unity in the Church, which could be interpreted as favoring the more widely-used Novus Ordo Mass.

Under Aviz’s watch, the dicastery also implemented highly controversial changes to contemplative life, especially of female religious.

The dicastery’s 2018 Instruction Cor Orans made considerable changes to female contemplative religious life. Critics said the document fundamentally altered in a negative way the nature of contemplative monastic life, especially for more traditional orders. Some argued that it would destroy the autonomy that St. Teresa of Avila insisted was crucial for Carmelite monasteries. However, supporters saw it as necessary reform to address issues concerning formation and ensure the viability of contemplative communities.

Cardinal Braz de Aviz also drew controversy for comments he made in 2020 in which he lambasted the state of “dominance” that men often hold over women in the Catholic Church. He also again stressed the need for a deeper renewal of religious life across the board. “In many cases, the relationship between consecrated men and women represents a sick system of relations of submission and dominance that takes away the sense of freedom and joy, a misunderstood obedience,” he said.

Aviz has warned that those who distance themselves from the Second Vatican Council “are killing themselves” and will eventually “be outside the Church.”

He himself came close to death soon after ordination. As a young priest on his way to celebrate Mass in a nearby village in Brazil, he stumbled upon an armored car robbery and was caught in the crossfire. Bullets perforated his lungs and intestines and one eye. Surgeons were able to save his eye but he still carries fragments of those bullets in his body.

As a young priest, Braz de Aviz said in 2011 he was close to abandoning the Catholic Church due to the “ideological excesses” that arose in the early years of liberation theology.

For the four years (1998-2002) he was Bishop of Ponta Grossa, the total number of priests in the diocese fell from 130 to 112; male religious numbers dropped from 201 to 144 while numbers of female religious increased from 327 to 360.

During his two years (2002-2004) as Archbishop of Maringa, vocations showed marginal differences: priests fell from 65 to 59; male religious increased from 25 to 36, and female religious dropped from 137 to 126.

Over the seven years he was Archbishop of Brasilia (2004-2012), the number of priests rose from 249 to 312; male religious numbers fell from 232 to 211, and female religious dropped from 504 to 428.

As of writing, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz continues to be an influential figure in the Catholic Church, contributing to the governance and spiritual guidance of religious institutes worldwide through his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life.

He speaks Portuguese and Italian.