Zilda Arns

Zilda Arns Neumann (25 August 1934 – 12 January 2010) was a Brazilian pediatrician, sanitation experts, and aid worker. A sister of Cardinal Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, the former Archbishop of São Paulo known for his efforts against the Brazilian military dictatorship, Zilda Arns became internationally known by founding a Catholic pastoral care for poor children. Her humanitarian work, which also included the poor and the elderly, spanned over three decades. She received numerous special mentions and honorary citizenship titles in the country. Similarly, the Children's Pastoral has been awarded several prizes for its work since its founding. In 2012, in a selection process using an international format, Arns was elected the 17th greatest Brazilian of all time. In January 2015, the beatification process for Zilda Arns was initiated in recognition of her charitable works. On April 20, 2023, she was inscribed by the Brazilian government in the Book of Heroes and Heroines of the Fatherland. Arns died on January 12, 2010, as a result of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2015, the Archdiocese of São Paulo intended to start a diocesan investigation in order to open a beatification process.