Hélder Câmara

Brazilian bishop and social justice advocate who challenged military dictatorship policies

Bishop Hélder Câmara (1909-1999) was a transformative religious leader who redefined Catholic social teaching in Brazil during the 1964-1985 military dictatorship. His official archive documents his campaigns against poverty and inequality, famously declaring 'The poor have the right to be poor' to highlight systemic injustice. He established over 300 community centers in favelas providing healthcare and education.

Cámara's 1975 The Cry of the Poor became a foundational text for liberation theology. Despite death threats, he publicly criticized torture practices and advocated for land reform through his television sermons. His interfaith initiatives included collaborating with Protestant and Indigenous leaders to create the first nationwide anti-hunger coalition.

Though excommunicated temporarily in 1973 for his activism, he remained a moral compass for Brazil's transition to democracy. Modern social movements like Movimento Hélder continue his work, using his 1982 documentary The Bishop's Journey as inspiration.