Leonardo Ulrich Steiner was born on 6 November 1950 in Forquilhinha, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He took his vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor on 2 August 1976 and was ordained a priest on 21 January 1978[2] by his cousin Cardinal Arns.[3]
He studied philosophy and theology at the Franciscans of Petrópolis. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and pedagogy at the Salesian Faculty of Lorraine. At the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum in Rome he obtained a licentiate and a doctorate in philosophy. After a period as assistant pastor and parish priest, he was seminary formator until 1986 and novice master from 1986 to 1995.[2]
From 1995 to 2003 he was Professor of Philosophy and Secretary of the Antonianum. Returning to Brazil in 2003, he was assistant pastor of the Bom Jesus Parish in the Archdiocese of Curitiba, as well as a lecturer at the Bom Jesus Faculty of Philosophy there.[2]
In the face of the Bolsonaro government's Covid denialism, Steiner avoided verbal confrontation and preferred to let the Church's actions serve as a response. He said: "Such ideological issues are very complex. But the church can't cease to manifest its positions. At the same time, we show through our work what we think that real solidarity is.... [Deniers] have lost sensibility to their neighbor. But the work that Catholics have been doing in Manaus, taking solace and hope to the homeless, immigrants and the poor, is fantastic. That's why our voice will keep being heard."[6]
On 27 November 2019, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Manaus.[2] He was installed there on 31 January 2020.
In April 2022 Steiner was named president of the Special Episcopal Commission for the Amazon. He is also the vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon Region (CEAMA).[7]
