Nei Paulo Moretto (25 May 1936 – 6 April 2023) was a Brazilian

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

prelate. He served as bishop of Cruz Alta (1972–1976), coadjutor bishop (1976–1983) and bishop of

Caxias do Sul Caxias do Sul (), is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, situated in the state's mountainous Serra Gaúcha region. It was established by Italian immigrants on June 20, 1890. Today it is the second largest city in the state of Rio Gr ...

(1983–2011).

Early life and education

Moretto was born in

on 25 May 1936, to Isidoro Domingos Moretto and Paulina Soldatelli, the eldest son of a family of 8 siblings. He did his primary studies at the Henrique Emílio Mayer School. In 1947 he went on to study at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Seminary, in Caxias do Sul, where he remained until 1953, and later graduated in Philosophy and Theology at the

Pontifical Gregorian University The Pontifical Gregorian University ( it, Pontificia Università Gregoriana; also known as the Gregorian or Gregoriana,) is a higher education ecclesiastical school ( pontifical university) located in Rome, Italy. The Gregorian originated as ...

. On 2 July 1961 he received his priestly ordination from Bishop Faustino Tissot.

Ministry

Priesthood

Back in Caxias do Sul, Moretto developed his activity at the Sagrada Familia Parish and shortly afterwards was appointed coadjutor at the parish of São Francisco de Paula. In 1963, he was assistant at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Seminary in Caxias do Sul and from 1964 to 1965 rector of the same seminary. From 1966 to 1972, Moretto was Professor of Philosophy and Theology at the Major Seminary in

Viamão Viamão is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In size it is the largest municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and the seventh most populous in the state. The origin of the name Viamão is controversial. The more common explan ...

. Between 1967 and 1968, he was assistant to the major seminarians of the Dioceses of Caxias do Sul and

Frederico Westphalen Frederico Westphalen is a southern Brazilian town located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. History The colonization of the Alto Uruguay region began in 1905. The first inhabitants were attracted by the natural resources of the region, special ...

. In 1969, he was appointed vice-rector and later rector of the seminary from 1970 until his episcopal appointment in 1972.

Bishop

On 16 November 1972, Moretto was appointed by

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

as bishop of the Diocese of Cruz Alta, being consecrated by Dom Umberto Mozzoni on 28 January 1973. He adopted his motto Omnia Gratia (''Everything is Grace''). On 21 January 1976, he was transferred to the Diocese of Caxias do Sul as coadjutor with the right to succession, taking office on 19 March 1976. On 26 May 1983, during the pilgrimage of Nossa Senhora de Caravaggio, Moretto was appointed bishop of Caxias do Sul, succeeding Dom Benedito Zorzi, a role he would hold for 28 years. Moretto was vice-president of the Board of Directors of the University of Caxias do Sul Foundation, president of CNBB Regional Sul III for two terms, and vice-president for one term. He introduced the cause of beatification of Father João Schiavo, which was confirmed in 2017.

Retirement and death

On 2 July 2011, Moretto celebrated his 50 years of presbyterial ordination, at the Diocesan Cathedral of Caxias do Sul, his last solemn mass as diocesan bishop. Four days later,

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...

accepted his resignation due to age limit, and since then he had been Bishop Emeritus of Caxias do Sul. He received the title of Citizen Emeritus of Caxias do Sul in 2011. Moretto died on 6 April 2023, at the age of 86.

References

External links

Nei Paulo Moretto at Catholic Hierarchy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moretto, Nei Paulo 1936 births 2023 deaths Brazilian Roman Catholic bishops 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Brazil 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Brazil Bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI Pontifical Gregorian University alumni People from Caxias do Sul