A prominent figure in Brazil’s religious landscape, Apostle Paulo de Tarso has devoted himself to the mission of bringing Jews and Christians closer together through his ministry. Known for his firm yet conciliatory approach, he is the author of the Manifesto Against Antisemitism, a document that has gained wide national attention.

The manifesto, signed by Christian leaders from eight Brazilian states, was addressed to Senate President David Alcolumbre and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Hugo Motta, as well as to the heads of the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary branches, the Brazilian public, and the Jewish community.

The text was reviewed by respected legal and political authorities, including Dr. Clarita Maia — an expert in international affairs and senior legislative consultant — and Federal Deputy Greyce Elias, further reinforcing the initiative’s credibility and importance.

1. Personal Background and the Apostolic House.

For the Israeli reader who may not yet know you: who are you, and what has been your journey as a Christian leader in Brazil?

My name is Paulo de Tarso. I am Brazilian, trained as a lawyer, and in 2000 I left my legal career to dedicate myself fully to pastoral ministry. In 2004, I was commissioned to the apostolic ministry, with the responsibility of serving churches and denominations across Brazil and abroad.

What is the Apostolic House that you lead? How did it come about, and what is its central mission?

The Apostolic House was founded in 2014, ten years after I was sent into apostolic ministry. Many leaders and churches across different states began seeking my spiritual covering and pastoral guidance — a way of serving with the gift I received from God. Since 2010, I have also been part of the Brazilian Apostolic Council, a national group of leaders.

Our mission is both simple and broad: amid the vast diversity of the Brazilian church, we help each leader feel useful and called to fulfill their role in proclaiming the values of God’s Kingdom.

What kinds of leaders are part of the Apostolic House, and from which regions of Brazil and the world do they come?

Something very special happened on May 1, 2026. Leaders of the Apostolic House from many Brazilian states gathered with representatives from the United States, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Israel. At that meeting, we decided to move beyond being just a group of leaders directly connected to me as a “spiritual father” and to become a broader platform — welcoming other seasoned leaders of major churches and denominations, whose work is recognized both nationally and internationally.

This process of growth and maturity created the spiritual and institutional strength that led to the Manifesto of July 8 in support of Israel and the Jewish people.

How does the Apostolic House work with these leaders in practice?

We are transitioning from a more vertical model to a horizontal, plural, and collaborative network. We continue to support small ministries and emerging leaders, but we also serve as spiritual and moral backing for Christian leaders who hold public office — in legislative and executive roles — at municipal, state, and federal levels.

One of our major goals is to prepare young people for the challenge of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations. We support existing initiatives and create new training programs, so that they may become “bright lights” in a time that, for us, is marked by deep moral and spiritual darkness.

2. Origin of the Manifesto.

What specifically led you to draft and make public this Manifesto in support of the Jewish Community?

I understand, before God, that my calling has always been connected to consoling the Jewish people. I am not Jewish, but I was reached by the Word that the Living God gave to Israel at Sinai — a Word that, through the faithfulness of that people, reached the “ends of the Earth,” including my own family in Brazil. For years I have prayed, preached, written, and used my social networks to defend Israel and the Jewish people. But recent events showed me that this was no longer enough. I realized I needed to act in a clearer, more public, responsible, and legally sound way: to be a voice that confesses our historic sin of omission in the face of this new wave of antisemitism, anti-Judaism, and anti-Zionism rising in the world. I am convinced that if hatred against the Jews is not contained, Christians will be next. Faced with this, I cannot remain silent.

Was there a specific episode after October 7, 2023, that served as a turning point?

Yes. October 7, during Simchat Torah, was decisive. On a day when Israel celebrated the joy of the Word it received from the Eternal — the Word with which it blessed all nations — the people were cowardly attacked, once again with the declared support of the Iranian regime and through Hamas. For me, that was a new Shoah, a cry that echoes the promise of “Never Again” made by the........

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