The monastic community of São Geraldo Abbey in São Paulo, Brazil, has elected Dom Geraldo González y Lima OSB as its fourth abbot. The election took place on 15 January 2026, coinciding with the liturgical memorial of Saints Maurus and Placid, the first disciples of Saint Benedict. Dom Geraldo succeeds to the abbatial chair of this community, a member of the Hungarian Congregation, after two decades of distinguished service to the wider confederation in Rome.

Born in Havana, Cuba, to a family of Spanish and Chinese heritage, Dom Geraldo’s life has been deeply intertwined with the Benedictine charism from his youth. A former pupil of Colégio Santo Américo, the abbey’s renowned educational institution, he later graduated in law from the University of São Paulo, specialising in corporate law. His transition from the legal profession to the cloister followed a period as a secular oblate, eventually entering São Geraldo in 1983. He made his solemn profession in 1987 and was ordained to the priesthood on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul in 1991.

Within his own community, Dom Geraldo’s leadership was established through a diverse range of responsibilities. He served as novice master, procurator and sub-prior, and was a founding member and superior of the Cella Saint Joseph in Itapecerica da Serra. His commitment to the Benedictine educational apostolate was particularly evident during his tenure as rector of Colégio Santo Américo and his work with the Pax Movement, which fosters spiritual growth among students, alumni and their families.

In 2005, Dom Geraldo was called to Rome to serve in the Curia of the Abbot Primate at Sant’Anselmo. Over the ensuing 20 years, he became a familiar and esteemed figure within the international Benedictine family. His roles were as varied as they were demanding: he served as secretary to Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, secretary general of the Pontifical Atheneum of Sant’Anselmo and, most notably, as the treasurer of the Benedictine Confederation. His expertise in administration and his measured, fraternal presence made him a mainstay of the Curia’s operations.

His influence extended well beyond the walls of the Aventine Hill. Dom Geraldo has been a pivotal figure in the International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE), currently serving as its Vice President, and has contributed significantly to the Alliance Inter-Monastère (AIM) in Paris. Furthermore, his appointment as procurator for several Benedictine congregations—including the American-Cassinese, Swiss-American, Cono-Sur and Solesmes congregations—underscores the trust placed in him by the global monastic community.

The election of Dom Geraldo marks the return of a seasoned administrator and a respected monk to the community that formed him. After a period of transition at Sant’Anselmo to conclude his responsibilities in Rome, he will return to Brazil to begin his abbatial ministry. In this new chapter, he will oversee the Abbey of São Geraldo and its extensive network of social, educational and pastoral works, including the Morumbi parish and the Saint Joseph Cell.

The community at Sant’Anselmo, while feeling the loss of a beloved colleague and friend, joins the monks of São Geraldo in prayer as Dom Geraldo takes up the abbatial staff, bringing his vast experience of the universal Order back to the service of his local community.