But he was calm at his appointment and said that "I am at peace" even though some considered his move to Mariana instead of São Salvador da Bahia was a lack of papal consideration on the part of Pope John Paul II. Mendes de Almeida served as a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and worked alongside its head Cardinal Văn Thuận with the prelate later expressing thanks for having had the "great grace to have met him".
He was calm at his appointment and said that "I am at peace" despite some considering his move to Mariana instead of São Salvador da Bahia as a lack of papal consideration on the part of Pope John Paul II. Mendes de Almeida served as a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and worked alongside its head Cardinal Văn Thuận with the prelate later expressing thanks for having had the "great grace to have met him".