Ordained on 14 March 1989 by Lucas Moreira Neves, O.P., he became a priest within the metropolitan archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia.

From 1989 to 2003, he served in various capacities including pastor of São João parish in Salvador, deputy rector at the propedeutical seminary of Santa Terezinha de Lisieux, assistant archdiocesan bursar, coordinator of the archdiocesan Theological Commission, and professor at several institutions.

He earned a postgraduate degree in theology and a doctorate in Christian anthropology from the Pontifical Lateran University.

He served as metropolitan archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista starting on 9 October 2019.

On 13 March 2024, Pope Francis appointed him metropolitan archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Aracaju, succeeding Dom.