Tomé Ferreira da Silva

Tomé Ferreira da Silva (born 17 May 1961) was a Roman Catholic prelate and is a priest in the Latin Rite. He was Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of São José do Rio Preto from 16 November 2012 until 18 August 2021. When ordained a bishop, the diocese he led had between 701,000 and 958,000 Roman Catholics, or almost 75% of the population.

Early life and formation Ferreira da Silva was born on 17 May 1961. The son of Sebastião Ferreira da Silva and Ana Ferreira da Silva, he joined the diocesan seminary Nossa Senhora das Dores in Campanha in 1975. He graduated with a degree in philosophy from the São José diocesan seminary, in Três Corações and in theology at the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Theological Institute, in Taubaté. He also completed undergraduate courses in social studies and history at the Vale do Rio Verde University, in Três Corações. He holds a master's degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained on 1 January 1987.

Resignation and removal On 18 August 2021, Pope Francis removed Ferreira da Silva as bishop after a sexual scandal, when he submitted his resignation to the Pope. On 13 August 2021, a video leaked to the public "in which he is seen semi-naked with another man." Ferreira da Silva admitted publicly that the video was authentic and had been taped by him. The bishop claims it was leaked by someone he knew.

Ferreira da Silva was replaced by Moacir Silva, archbishop of Ribeirao Preto as apostolic administrator sede vacante.