Vatican City. On January 4, 2011 the appointment, by the Holy Father, of Archbishop Joao Braz de Aviz as new Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA) has been made public. Mons. João Braz de Aviz succeeds Cardinal Franc Rode, CM, whose resignation from the office of Prefect was accepted due to age limit.
The new Prefect was born in April 1947 in Mafra-SC, Brazil and was ordained to the priesthood in the diocese of Apucarana in 1972.
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vitoria, he was then ordained bishop in 1994. In 2004 he was appointed Archbishop of Brasilia.
The Claretian Missionaries congratulate Mons. Braz de Aviz and pray for his spirit of wisdom in the mission that the Pope has entrusted to him, and we offer him our cooperation in the advancement of religious life.
