João Scognamiglio Clá Dias (15 August 1939 – 1 November 2024) was a Brazilian Roman Catholic priest and religious writer. He was the founder of the

Heralds of the Gospel The Heralds of the Gospel (; , abbreviated to E.P.) is a Catholic International Association of Pontifical Pontifical Right founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias. It is active in 78 countries. History The Heralds were recognized as ...

and was their Superior General until his resignation on 2 June 2017. Dias was a member of the Marian Congregation of the Third Carmelite Order from 23 May 1956, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on 15 June 2004. He was also the Honorary Canon of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. He died on 1 November 2024, at the age of 85.

Early life and studies

Dias was the son of a Spanish father, António Clá Díaz, born in

Ceuta Ceuta (, , ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities, autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of th ...

, and Annita Scognamiglio, born in

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

to Italian immigrant parents. He studied law at the Faculty of the Largo de São Francisco, in São Paulo. He had degrees in philosophy and theology at the Italian-Brazilian Universitarian Center, of São Paulo. He also was licentiated in Humanities by the Pontifícia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, of the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...

, a Master in Canon Law by the Pontifício Instituto de Direito Canônico of

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, and a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Heralds of the Gospel

Throughout the 20th century, Clá Dias was involved in several Catholic apostolates in Brazil. He decided to found the

, a religious order, on 21 September 1999 and it was recognized on 22 February 2001 as an International Association of Pontifical Right by the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

. In 2005, he decided that the Heralds should include priests in their ranks. He, along with some other leading members of the Heralds, were ordained to the priesthood. On 14 September 2008, Pope Benedict XVI nominated Fr. Clá Dias as the Honorary Canon of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome and gave him the honorary title of "Monsignor". In recognition of Monsignor Clá Dias' long and dedicated service to the Church, on 15 August 2009, Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the "

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' ("For Church and Pope" in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy. History The medal was established by Leo XII ...

" Medal, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Supreme Pontiff. He was Superior General from the inception of the apostolate until his resignation on 2 June 2017, announced on 12 June 2017.Superior Geral dos Arautos do Evangelho renuncia, Acidigital, 13 June 2017 (Portuguese)
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Death

On 1 November 2024, Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias died peacefully in Franco da Rocha, São Paulo, Brazil. He was 85.

Works

Dias published several books, including ''O Inédito sobre os Evangelhos'' (2013-2016), in 7 volumes, translated into English as ''New Insights on the Gospels'', and his biography of

Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira (December 13, 1908 – October 3, 1995) was a Brazilian intellectual and traditionalist Catholic activist, best known for the foundation of the Tradition, Family and Property organization. Biography Early lif ...

, ''O Dom de Sabedoria na Mente, Vida e Obra de Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira'' (2016), in 5 volumes.

References

External links

João Scognamiglio Clá Dias Biography
(in English) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dias, Joao Scognamiglio Cla 1939 births 2024 deaths 20th-century Brazilian Roman Catholic priests Brazilian religious writers Founders of Catholic religious communities Heralds of the Gospel Brazilian people of Spanish descent Brazilian people of Italian descent 21st-century Brazilian Roman Catholic priests Tradition, Family, Property