Hélder Câmara
Hélder Câmara | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop-Emeritus of Olinda e Recife | |
Camara in 1974 | |
| See | Olinda e Recife (Emeritus) |
| Installed | 12 March 1964 |
| Term ended | 2 April 1985 |
| Predecessor | Carlos Gouveia Coelho |
| Successor | José Cardoso Sobrinho |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1931 |
| Consecration | 20 April 1952 by Jaime de Barros Câmara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hélder Pessoa Câmara 7 February 1909 Fortaleza, Brazil |
| Died | 27 August 1999 (aged 90) Recife, Brazil |
| Buried | Holy Saviour of the World Cathedral, Olinda |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Motto | In manus tuas (into your hands) |
| Coat of arms | |
Hélder Pessoa Câmara OFS (7 February 1909 – 27 August 1999) was a Brazilian Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Olinda and Recife from 1964 to 1985 during the military dictatorship in Brazil. He was declared a Servant of God in 2015.
A self-identified socialist, Câmara was an advocate of liberation theology. He did social and political work for the poor and for human rights and democracy during the military regime. Câmara preached for a church closer to the disfavoured people. He is quoted as having said, "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist."