26 July 2023(2023-07-26) (aged 81) Altamira, Pará, Brazil
Geraldo Lyrio Rocha (14 March 1942 – 26 July 2023) was a Brazilian Roman Catholic prelate. He served as bishop of Colatina from 1990 to 2002, archbishop of Vitória da Conquista from 2002 to 2007 and Mariana from 2007 to 2018.
Priesthood
On 15 August 1967, Rocha was ordained a priest and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Vitória. He had held the positions of spiritual father, then rector of the diocesan seminary (1967–1983), director of the local Pastoral Institute and pastoral coordinator in the archdiocese (1968–1976).[1]
Episcopate
On 14 March 1984, Rocha was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Vitória, with the titular see of Thelepte. He was consecrated bishop on 31 May by Archbishop Silvestre Luís Scandián.[1] On 23 April 1990, he was appointed Bishop of Colatina.[1] On 16 January 2002, he was appointed archbishop of Vitória da Conquista, in the state of Bahia. The swear in took place on 17 March.[2][1]
On 11 April 2007, Rocha was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana.[3] The canonical assumption of office took place on 23 June.[1] Between 2003 and 2007, he was the 2nd vice-chairman of CELAM. From 2007 to 2011, he was the president of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil.[1][4] On 25 April 2018, the pope accepted Rocha's resignation due to age.[5]
Death
Rocha died in Altamira on 26 July 2023, at the age of 81.[6]
