SAO PAULO (CNS) – Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, known as the “cardinal of the people” and one of the most active voices against Brazil’s military dictatorship, died in Sao Paulo Dec. 14. The 95-year-old retired archbishop of Sao Paulo had been hospitalized with pneumonia.

At a celebration for his 95th birthday, leaders of Brazil’s landless movement as well as former government leaders, sportscasters, intellectuals, journalists and artists held a party at Sao Paulo’s Catholic University and spoke about Cardinal Arns’ dedication toward the poor and his fight against human rights violations and political persecution during the 1964-85 military regime.

Announcing Cardinal Arns’ death, Sao Paulo Cardinal Odilo Scherer said his predecessor “gave his life to God after having generously dedicated it to his brothers in this world.”

Brazil’s military dictatorship ruled the country from 1964 to 1985. In one of his most famous actions against police violence in the 1970s, Cardinal Arns faced a military squadron to retrieve the body of Santo Dias da Silva, labor leader and member of the church’s workers’ pastoral.

In his 28 years as head of the Sao Paulo Archdiocese, he created 43 parishes, built more than 1,200 community centers, and encouraged the creation of more than 2000 basic ecclesial communities in the city of Sao Paulo.

Under Cardinal Arns, the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo had AIDS education and prevention programs, activities to help some of the city’s two million homeless children and ministry to the city’s convicts and criminal suspects.

Among his more than 40 awards, diplomas, titles and honors, Cardinal Arns was named as one of Brazil’s most influential leaders several times.

New York’s The Christophers named him “One of 50 personalities who helped make this world better.”