"I am Brazilian, born and raised in São Paulo. Like many in my city, I have foreign ancestors, mostly Portuguese and Italian, and also from other parts of the country. Coming from a Christian family, I have to thank God for the good parents and grandparents I received, who transmitted the faith to me and gave me a happy childhood. I have a younger brother and sister and many cousins with whom I was able to grow up and play.
Despite good references and sincere faith as a child, until adulthood I had never participated in specifically Catholic circles. The parish was just the place where I went for obligatory masses. As a teenager, without much personality, I let myself be led by friends down paths that were not very pleasing to God. During college, in practical life, I drifted quite far away from the Lord. This situation, however, was enough to kindle in my heart the desire to truly make my own the faith I first received from my parents. Indeed, I saw clearly the truth of God and of His goodness, the superiority of the life of the saints over the life of the world and the misery of the life of my friends. I also understood my difference compared to my companions: while they were lost without really knowing what they were losing, I knew that I was losing Heaven, and so I also knew that I had a greater responsibility.
Halfway through college I really decided to convert. From then on, despite my miseries, I began to seek holiness as a life goal. That's when I began to desire the priesthood. After finishing my degree and doing some work in the meantime, I started a degree in the same area (Economics), which I interrupted to apply to the seminary of São Paulo.
Shortly afterwards I received the happy news: our beloved archbishop had decided to send me to Rome. In the Eternal City I completed my studies in Philosophy and Theology. On July 9, 2022, I was ordained a deacon in the Cathedral of St. Paul. Now, beginning a new stage, I am returning to Rome to obtain my licentiate in Philosophy".
