Brazil: Bishop dies of Covid-19

Source: Fides

Brazilian Bishop Henrique Soares da Costa, Bishop of Palmares, in the state of Pernambuco, died of Covid-19 on Saturday. He was 57 years old. Bishop Henrique went into hospital on 4 July. He was treated in the intensive care unit of San José Hospital in Recife, but his condition deteriorated in the last few days, until his death on July 18th.

Mgr Soares da Costa was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Aracaju in 2009. In 2014, he was appointed Bishop of the diocese of Palmares.

The diocese of Palmares had been organizing special prayers for the health of the Bishop. Every day different priests from the diocese led prayers from 8 am to 12. These were broadcast on social media, where Bishop Henrique had many thousands of followers.

With 2.1 million confirmed cases of Covid in Brazil and 80,120 deaths - Brazil has the second highest death toll in the world, after the USA, which has had 143,289 fatalities from the virus.