João Scognamiglio Clá Dias (15 August 1939 – 1 November 2024) was a Brazilian Roman Catholic priest and religious writer. He was the founder of the Heralds of the Gospel and was their Superior General until his resignation on 2 June 2017. Dias was a member of the Marian Congregation of the Third Carmelite Order from 23 May 1956, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on 15 June 2004. He was also the Honorary Canon of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. He died on 1 November 2024, at the age of 85.[1]
The Very Reverend Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias | |
|---|---|
| Superior General of the Heralds of the Gospel | |
 Clá Dias (right) with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 | |
| Successor | to be designated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 August 1939 |
| Died | 1 November 2024 (aged 85) Franco da Rocha, São Paulo, Brazil |
Early life and studies
editDias was the son of a Spanish father, António Clá Díaz, born in Ceuta, and Annita Scognamiglio, born in São Paulo to Italian immigrant parents. He studied law at the Faculty of the Largo de São Francisco, in São Paulo. He had degrees in philosophy and theology at the Italian-Brazilian Universitarian Center, of São Paulo. He also was licentiated in Humanities by the Pontifícia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, of the Dominican Republic, a Master in Canon Law by the Pontifício Instituto de Direito Canônico of Rio de Janeiro, and a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, in Rome.[2]
Heralds of the Gospel
editThroughout the 20th century, Clá Dias was involved in several Catholic apostolates in Brazil. He decided to found the Heralds of the Gospel, a religious order, on 21 September 1999 and it was recognized on 22 February 2001 as an International Association of Pontifical Right by the Holy See. In 2005, he decided that the Heralds should include priests in their ranks. He, along with some other leading members of the Heralds, were ordained to the priesthood.[3]
On 14 September 2008, Pope Benedict XVI nominated Fr. Clá Dias as the Honorary Canon of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome and gave him the honorary title of "Monsignor".
In recognition of Monsignor Clá Dias' long and dedicated service to the Church, on 15 August 2009, Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" Medal, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Supreme Pontiff.
He was Superior General from the inception of the apostolate until his resignation on 2 June 2017, announced on 12 June 2017.[4]
Death
editOn 1 November 2024, Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias died peacefully in Franco da Rocha, São Paulo, Brazil. He was 85.
Works
editDias published several books, including O Inédito sobre os Evangelhos (2013-2016), in 7 volumes, translated into English as New Insights on the Gospels, and his biography of Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, O Dom de Sabedoria na Mente, Vida e Obra de Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira (2016), in 5 volumes.
References
edit- ^ Monsenhor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias entrega sua alma a Deus (in Portuguese)
- ^ João Scogmaiglio Clá Dias Biography at Heralds of the Gospel Website
- ^ herauts (16 June 2020). "Our Founder". Heralds of the Gospel. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Superior Geral dos Arautos do Evangelho renuncia, Acidigital, 13 June 2017 (Portuguese)
External links
edit- João Scognamiglio Clá Dias Biography (in English)