The new rector

by Pina Baglioni

Father João Roque Rohr, a 69 year-old Jesuit, born in the State of Santa Catarina, took over the helm of the Pius Brazilian Pontifical College at the end of March. Pedagogic guidance director at the Colégio Anchieta of Porto Alegre, capital of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, from 1986 to 1992 he was head of the Jesuits in the southern Province of Brazil. For two years he taught theology at the Universidad do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) in Porto Alegre. Subsequently elected chairman of the Conference of the Religious Congregations of men and women in Brazil, from 2001 to 2002 he served as secretary to a committee of the Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB) set up to deal with the problems of drought and famine in the semi-arid states of the North-East. Before being appointed rector of the Brazilian College, he was the provincial responsible for all of Brazil.