[4] Pope Benedict XVI named Rocha to succeed João Braz de Aviz as archbishop of Brasilia on 15 June 2011.

In Brazilia, he erected 11 new parishes, created new plans for supporting the homeless and young people, reorganized the seminary, and restructured the leadership of the archdiocese.

[7] Pope Francis raised him to the rank of cardinal on 19 November 2016, naming him Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Via Flaminia.

[8] In November 2017, Pope Francis appointed Rocha relator general of the October 2018 Synod on Youth and Vocations.

In his homily he said:[11] The Church is called to be a merciful mother; it suffers with the violence perpetrated against the people.... Violence against the LGBTI+ population is a sad signal of a society which is used to constant violations of life, of dignity, of the rights of so many victims of brutal death.On 7 March 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to the Council of Cardinal Advisors.