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SÃO PAULO, November 27, 2025 — The Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB) has designated Arnaldo Carvalheiro Neto, bishop of the Diocese of Jundiaí near São Paulo, to oversee pastoral care for Catholic LGBTQ+ groups across Brazil as per Crux.
His appointment, spanning a three-year term, marks the first time in Brazil that a bishop will formally serve as a referential figure for LGBTQ+ Catholic communities.
A Long Time Coming for Recognition
According to leaders of the National Catholic LGBT+ Groups Network, which brings together more than 25 local LGBTQ+ Catholic groups, the decision represents overdue recognition. The first group, now part of the Network, was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 2007; the Network grew nationally by 2014.
Luis Fernando Rabello, Executive Secretary of the Network, said the appointment validates more than a decade of work by LGBTQ+ Catholics seeking spiritual belonging inside the Church.
In recent years, some dioceses have already seen sporadic efforts to support LGBT+ believers. In 2017, a “Sexual Diversity Pastoral Ministry” was established in several parishes around Belo Horizonte; in other areas, such as Nova Iguaçu, initiatives emerged under local bishops.
Still, these efforts often lacked institutional backing; some were halted after pushback from more conservative church leaders.
What This Appointment Means
For many LGBTQ+ Catholics, Carvalheiro Neto’s appointment signals a shift from marginalization toward inclusion. With him in a recognized, official position, advocates expect safer spaces for spiritual practice, less fear of exclusion, and more visible support within the Church.
Theologically supportive voices within the Church, like scholar Suzane Moreira, see the move as part of a gradual evolution. Moreira noted that historically the Church avoided “delicate questions” like sexuality; in Brazil, this dimension has been shifting for at least two decades, and the appointment of a bishop for LGBTQ+ pastoral care continues that trajectory.
Still, she cautioned that change will likely remain slow. Deeply ingrained homophobic attitudes among clergy and lay faithful will not disappear overnight.
Sociologist Francisco Borba Ribeiro Neto described the decision as pragmatic, influenced by Brazil’s broader social reality. He pointed out that many Brazilian Catholics prefer to avoid conflict; providing pastoral care without immediately condemning or excommunicating LGBTQ+ believers could foster gradual understanding.
He also suggested the new pastoral structure could serve as a “laboratory” for broader reforms in global Catholic ministry toward LGBTQ+ faithful, potentially offering a model for other national churches.
About Bishop Arnaldo Carvalheiro Neto
Bishop Carvalheiro Neto, born in 1967, earned priestly ordination in 1997. He studied philosophy and theology in Brazil and later pursued spiritual direction and hospital chaplaincy in Chicago and Dublin. He holds a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University.
He became bishop of Jundiaí in 2016, after being named by Pope Francis. Supporters describe him as a moderate bishop, someone previously involved in pastoral support and education.
Carvalheiro Neto has previously engaged with Catholic LGBT+ groups, including offering courses for the Network, which likely contributed to his selection.
