Diocese of Nova Iguaçu recalls 50 years of Dom Adriano's kidnapping

The Diocese of Nova Iguaçu is marking 50 years since the kidnapping of Dom Adriano Hypólito by armed men. The abduction occurred on September 22, 1976, during the military dictatorship.

The diocese noted that the attack aimed to intimidate the local Church, which worked closely with workers, the poor, and people facing rights violations in the Baixada Fluminense region. The National Truth Commission later placed the kidnapping within the broader context of religious persecution and recognized the bishop's work with neighborhood movements and labor organizations.

Dom Adriano Hypólito had served the diocese since 1966, a period when the region was experiencing rapid population growth and significant social inequality.