 His initial schooling was spent at the Colégio Santo Inácio in Rio de Janeiro.He entered the Jesuits on 2 March 1947 and then underwent his ecclesial studies first at Nova Friburgo from 1951 to 1953 (at the Colégio Anchieta) and then at the Pontifical Gregorian from 1955 until 1959 for his theological studies.His philosophical course at the Gregorian spanned from 1960 to 1965 and he earned his doctorate in Thomism.