Benedito Francisco de Albuquerque (born 24 July 1928) is a Brazilian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Itapipoca from 1985 until his retirement in 2005. He holds the title of Bishop Emeritus of Itapipoca.[1]
Biography
Benedito Francisco de Albuquerque was born on 24 July 1928 in Coreaú, in the state of Ceará, Brazil.[1]
He was ordained a priest on 8 December 1953 at the Cathedral of Sobral, after having been ordained a deacon earlier that same year.[2] His first Mass was celebrated on 13 December 1953 in his hometown of Coreaú.[2]
Albuquerque completed studies in sociology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.[2]
On 4 January 1985, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Itapipoca by Pope John Paul II, succeeding Bishop Paulo Eduardo Andrade Ponte.[1] He received episcopal consecration on 5 May 1985 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercies in Itapipoca, with Cardinal Aloísio Lorscheider as the principal consecrator.[1]
During his episcopate, Albuquerque also served as President of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) Regional Northeast 1 and was involved in pastoral and social initiatives in the region of Ceará.[2]
Upon reaching the canonical age of retirement, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Itapipoca on 25 May 2005.[3] He was succeeded by Bishop Antônio Roberto Cavuto.[1]
In retirement, Albuquerque has continued to participate in ecclesial events in the diocese. In 2018, celebrations were held marking his 90th birthday.[4]
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5]"Bishop Benedito Francisco de Albuquerque". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4]"Bispos e Diocese de Itapipoca". CNBB Nordeste 1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- 3."Rinunce e Nomine, 25.05.2005" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- 4."Dom Benedito Francisco, bispo emérito de Itapipoca, comemora 90 anos de vida". Edvar Ximenes CE (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 January 2026.