Alexandre Varela
#359,280 Most Popular
About
Brazilian religious leader, Catholic deacon, author, journalist, and digital content creator known as O Catequista and known for sharing humorous explanations of Catholic doctrine, church history, sacraments, saints, and current Vatican news on his website and on Instagram with over 310,000 followers.
Before fame
He began serving as a catechist around 2002 and built a professional career in information technology and project management. He created O Catequista in 2011 and initially intended the website for approximately 30 students before it quickly attracted thousands of readers. He joined Instagram in April 2016.
Trivia
He co-authored his first book As Grandes Mentiras sobre a Igreja Católica in October 2016. He followed his debut with the books As Verdades que Nunca te Contaram sobre a Igreja Católica in 2018, Sagrada Família: Entre Fraldas e Anjos in 2020, and Crime, Castigo e Misericórdia in 2024. He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro in November 2021.
Family life
He has six children with Viviane Varela, and they have also co-authored several books and founded O Catequista together.
Associated with
He received Vatican press accreditation in 2017 and became known for explaining speeches and news involving Pope Francis.
