Sérgio da Rocha (; born 21 October 1959) is a Brazilian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the

Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archd ...

on 11 March 2020. Previously, he was the Archbishop of Brasília.

Biography

Da Rocha was born in Dobrada, Diocese of Jaboticabal, State of São Paulo in 1959. After his elementary studies, he took courses in philosophy at the diocesan seminary of São Carlos and theology at the Theological Institute of Campinas. He received a licentiate in moral theology at the Theological Faculty Nossa Senhora da Assunção, São Paulo, and a doctorate in the same discipline at the

Alphonsian Academy 150px, St. Alphonsus de Liguori, whose teachings inspired the establishment of the Academy. The Pontifical Alphonsian Academy (; ), also commonly known as the Alphonsianum, is a pontifical institution of higher education founded in 1949 by the Re ...

, Rome. He was ordained on 14 December 1984 to Mata, the Diocese of São Carlos. As a priest has had the following ministries: Priest in Água Vermelha and Coordinator of the Youth Pastoral of São Carlos (1985–1986) and professor of philosophy at the seminary and the Diocesan Spiritual Director of the House of Theology in Campinas (1986–1987 and 1991); Rector of the Seminary of Philosophy of São Carlos (1987–1988 and 1990), Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Vocation (1987 and 1989), Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of São Carlos (1988–1989), Parochial Vicar of the Parish Nossa Senhora de Fátima São Carlos (1990), Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral and Rector of the Chapel of São Carlos in São Judas Tadeu (1991), Professor of Moral Theology at the PUC Campinas and Rector of the Diocesan Seminary of Theology (1997–2001), member of the formation of permanent deacons, and member of the Council of Priests and the College of Consultants. On 13 June 2001 he was appointed

Titular Bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox a ...

of Alba and Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza by

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

. He was consecrated on 11 August. He was appointed