Zilda Arns

Brazilian pediatrician and aid worker

Zilda Arns Neumann (August 25, 1934 – January 12, 2010) was a Brazilian pediatrician and aid worker.A sister of Cardinal Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, the former Archbishop of São Paulo known for his efforts against the Brazilian military dictatorship, Zilda Arns became internationally known by founding a Catholic pastoral care for poor children.

Her humanitarian work, which also included the poor and the elderly, spanned over three decades.Arns died on January 12, 2010 as a result of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Five years after her death, the Archdiocese of São Paulo formally launched a diocesan investigation, opening the way to canonization and recognition of her status as a saint.