Avelar Brandão Vilela (June 13, 1912 – December 19, 1986) was a Brazilian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

On June 13, 1946, his thirty-fourth birthday, Vilela was appointed Bishop of Petrolina by Pope Pius XII.

Serving as President of the Latin American Episcopal Conference from 1966 to 1972, he was named Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on March 25, 1971.

Pope Paul VI created him Cardinal Priest of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio in the consistory of March 5, 1973.

He earned the nickname of the "Great Conciliator" for his ability to reach both progressives and conservatives in the Brazilian Church,[1] and was given the title of Primate of Brazil when his archdiocese was raised to that rank on October 25, 1980.