The Archbishop Emeritus of Vitória-ES, Dom Luiz Mancilha Vilela, 80 years old, had been hospitalized since July 23rd at the Unimed Vitória Hospital to treat liver complications. Last Sunday, the archbishop's health deteriorated, and in the early afternoon of this Tuesday, Dom Luiz passed away.

Hospitalized for 30 days in the ICU, Dom Luiz received many visits from his brothers in the Congregation, priests and religious who work in the Archdiocese of Vitória, and even from the Governor of Espírito Santo. Yesterday morning, Dom Luiz showed a slight improvement in his health, but the situation worsened during the night due to the shutdown of some health services.

The wake for Dom Luiz will take place at the Cathedral of Vitória, this Wednesday, August 24th, from 9 am to 9 pm. Throughout the day there will be funeral masses beginning at 10 am and continuing in the afternoon: 2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm.

On Thursday the 25th, there will be masses at 6am, 8am and 10am, the last one being the Funeral Mass, presided over by Archbishop Dom Frei Dario Campos. The burial will then take place in the Cathedral Crypt.

Dom Luiz Mancilha Vilela, SS.CC.

Luiz Mancilha Vilela was born on May 6, 1942, in Pouso Alto, in the south of Minas Gerais. At the age of 19, he professed his temporary vows in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo. Six years later, on December 21, 1968, he was ordained a priest in Belo Horizonte by the then archbishop of the Minas Gerais capital, Dom Serafim Fernandes de Araújo.

After his ordination, Dom Luiz served as coordinator of Vocational Pastoral Care in the Province of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, provincial councilor, and superior of the Sacred Hearts Seminary in Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo.

On December 3, 1985, Pope John Paul II appointed Luiz Mancilha Vilela as bishop of Cachoeiro do Itapemerim-ES. His episcopal ordination took place on February 22, 1986, and Dom Luiz remained there for 17 years. In 2002, he went to the capital, Vitória, as auxiliary bishop, and two years later, on April 14, 2004, he was appointed archbishop of Vitória, a position he held until his retirement in November 2018.

Since then, as Archbishop Emeritus, Dom Luiz remained residing in the Archdiocese of Vitória, carrying out some religious activities. Throughout his life he wrote several works, among them: "Pray With Me", "In the Footsteps of Jesus" and "Visit to the Sanctuary of Health and Peace", where he recounts, in poetic phrases, every detail of the Church of Father Eustáquio in Belo Horizonte.