Odilo Scherer

Odilo Pedro Scherer (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈdʒilu ˈpedɾu ˈʃɛɾeʁ]; born Otto Pedro Scherer; 21 September 1949) is a Brazilian cardinal of the Catholic Church. Since 2007 he has been the Archbishop of São Paulo, where he was auxiliary bishop from 2001 to 2007. From 1994 to 2001 he worked in the Roman Curia at the Congregation for Bishops. Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2007. Scherer was mentioned in the international media as a possible contender to succeed Benedict in 2013. When, in 2024, Scherer submitted his resignation as required at the age of 75, Pope Francis asked him to serve for two more years. He has been described as "an intellectual with great command of finance and economics" and "on the bookish side". His theology and pastoral approach has been called "considered to be theologically moderate, though in his own country he is seen as fairly conservative". In style he is reserved. He eschews the politics and language of liberation theology, but preaches and practices an evangelism devoted to the suffering of the poor and open to lay participation and charismatic movements.