Geraldo Alckmin defends Catholic traditions amid rumors

Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin issued a statement via social media defending Catholic traditions following online rumors involving Flávio Bolsonaro. Alckmin stated that religious traditions will be “protected and preserved” as long as President Lula and he are in office, noting he had received messages from “concerned Catholics.”

The rumors suggested that Flávio Bolsonaro intended to remove Nossa Senhora Aparecida as the patron saint of Brazil. Flávio Bolsonaro has denied these claims. Investigations into the matter revealed the information to be false; the legislative proposal regarding the patron saint was actually introduced by former federal deputy Victório Galli in 2007 and was archived in 2008.