The Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Maria do Disterro Rocha Santos, president of the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB), as consultant to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the Vatican.
The appointment was announced on August 6 by the Press Office of the Holy See, along with the appointment of fourteen other new consultants who will collaborate with this body of the Roman Curia.
As a consultant, the Brazilian religious will participate in studies, reflections, and initiatives aimed at promoting and supporting Consecrated Life in the universal Church.
In service of Religious Life
Native of Picos, in the Brazilian state of Piauí, Sister María do Disterro Rocha Santos is 66 years old and belongs to the Congregation of the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, known as Cordimarian Sisters.
She holds a master's degree in Spiritual Theology and has an extensive background of service to the Religious Life. Throughout her journey, she has served three terms as general superior of her congregation and has been part of the board of the Conference of Religious of Brazil. She also participated in the coordination of the Union of General Superiors of Brazilian Congregations and was responsible for the Ceará region of the Conference of Religious of Brazil.
In 2025, she was elected president of the Conference of Religious of Brazil for the term 2025-2028. At that time, the institution stated that her election represented "a sign of the strength of attentive listening to the cries of the most needy and of the mystique of care, so necessary for the mission of the Conference of Religious of Brazil in this new cycle".
Service to the universal Church
After the appointment was announced, the Conference of Religious of Brazil expressed its joy and emphasized that this designation recognizes the service that Sister María do Disterro has provided to the Consecrated Religious Life in the country.
In a statement shared on its social media, the institution noted that the religious will now put her experience and commitment at the service of the universal Church. Likewise, the Conference stated that "welcome this appointment with joy and gratitude, recognizing it as a sign of trust from the Holy See and an incentive for the mission of Consecrated Religious Life in Brazil".
With this designation, the president of the Conference of Religious of Brazil joins the group of consultants who advise the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, bringing the experience of Latin American Religious Life in the processes of reflection and accompaniment that this Vatican body promotes.
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