Leo XIV Appoints Agenda 2030 Bishop: "Against Ecumenism Is Against Christ"

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Leo XIV Appoints Agenda 2030 Bishop: "Against Ecumenism Is Against Christ"

gloria.tv | February 16, 2026
Pope Leo XIV appointed today the Cabo Verde born Bishop Teodoro Mendes Tavares, 62, of Ponta de Pedras, Brazil, as Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde.

Cabo Verde is an island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa, made up of ten volcanic islands.

Born on 7 January 1964 in Cabo Verde, Bishop Tavares took his vows with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He was ordained a priest on 11 July 1993 and was sent as a missionary to Brazil in 1994, to the Prelacy of Tefé, in the Amazonas region.

In 1995, he earned a licentiate in "ecumenism" from Trinity College in Dublin. His doctoral theses was on "Churches and European immigration policy in light of the Schengen and Dublin agreements".

In 2011, Benedict XVI appointed him as auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese of Belém do Pará, Brazil. Back then, the Catholic website FratresInUnum.wordpress.com described the appointment as anti-Catholic.

Francis advanced him in 2015 as Coadjutor and then Bishop of Ponta de Pedras, Brazil.


Signatory of the Cop30 Declaration

In 2023, the Brazilian bishops elected him president of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue for the 2023–27 term.

In July 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as a member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

In November 2025, Tavares was listed as one of the Catholic bishops who signed a joint church statement at the COP30 UN-sponsored meeting in Belém.


Amazon Synod Is “Historic Milestone”

Monsignor Tavares participated in the Amazon Synod in 2019. Talking to VaticanNews.va, he described the long-forgotten Synod as a “historic milestone” that gives visibility to “the cry of the Amazon”.

“Earth Is Common Home… Religions Serve Fraternity”

In May 2021, according to Cnbb.org.br, he suggested that all dioceses should have "ecumenical" pastoral teams and groups to organise "ecumenical" prayers and celebrations.

He also said: “The Holy Father says that the Earth is our common home, and that we are all brothers and sisters. In the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, he clearly reiterates that a path of peace between religions is possible. He even states that religious leaders are called to be true dialoguers, playing an active role in building peace, not just as intermediaries, but as genuine mediators who seek peace as their ultimate goal. Furthermore, he affirms that religions are at the service of fraternity in the world.”


“Francis Is Ecumenical... Follow this Path”

In 2023, Monsignor Tavares told CanCanova.com that Pope Francis sets a “shining example” for the path we should follow in favour of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue in our search for unity in diversity.

He believes that “today's highly divided world expects churches and religions, members of other faiths, and us Catholic Christians in particular to promote a culture of encounter, dialogue, fraternity, social friendship, and peace”.


"Not to Be Ecumenical Is to Disobey the Magisterium"

In April 2024, he spoke at another interreligious celebration, according to A12.com: “Above all, this celebration shows the Catholic Church's openness to dialogue between Christians and people of other religions. I want to reiterate what Pope Francis has emphasised: the importance of living in a culture of encounter, dialogue, fraternity and social friendship. Religions must contribute to fraternity, peace, and goodness in the world, and never the opposite. So, the Catholic Church's great banner is peace, fraternity, and unity.”

In September 2025, he said at an ecumenical conference, as reported by CnBB.org.br: “Ecumenism is essential for the Church. Not to be ecumenical is to disobey the magisterium and go against the will of Christ, who prayed for the unity of his disciples.”


Salvation in Different Religious Traditions

Talking to Paulinas.com.br, Mons Tavares said that Nostra Aetate from Vatican II is the Magna Carta for interreligious dialogue:

“It represented a paradigm shift: from ecclesiocentrism and exclusivism to the recognition of the value of non-Christian religions. The Church proclaims Christ, but respects and esteems other religious confessions. The Declaration introduced a more inclusive vision, recognizing God's action in the history of salvation, which is realized under different names and in different traditions.”