René Breuel was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1983 and has lived in Rome, Italy since 2010.

He holds a Master of Studies in Creative Writing from Oxford University in the UK, a Master of Divinity from Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, a bachelor’s in business administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has studied at Universität Mannheim in Germany. 

These experiences have allowed René to nurture various interests such as faith, relationships, literature and culture. He works in Italian, English, and Portuguese as a speaker, author, screenwriter, and theologian who addresses audiences who share his faith, those who don’t, and those who believe otherwise.

Breuel is the author of The Paradox of Happiness, which has been published in the US by Kirkdale Press, in Brazil by Editora Hagnos, and in Italy by Edizioni GBU. He has contributed chapters for Movements of the Gospel, a Redeemer City to City 2018 publication, and Common: Fifty Reflections on Everyday Life, a forthcoming book by Regent College Publishing. His most recent projects include Fathers Don’t Come Ready, a memoir about fatherhood, and Basta Mammoni, a screenplay of family comedy for the Italian cinema.

In 2012 he founded Hopera, a church that seeks to contribute to Rome’s spiritual, social, and cultural flourishing. His sermons reach an Italian online audience through YouTube and the platform Hopera.tv.

Breuel has written for the Washington Post, Times Literary Supplement, and other publications. He contributes regularly to faith-based periodicals such as Christianity Today (in USA), Ultimato (in Brazil), Evangelical Focus (a European news website), and Protestante Digital (its equivalent for Spanish-speaking countries).

Breuel has been interviewed at Mornings with Carmen LaBerge, Quick to Listen, and The Metaxas Show. He is also a founding member of Creative Collective, an initiative that encourages artists and professionals in Rome to use their creativity for the common good.

Married to Sarah in 2006, he is the proud father of two children, Pietro and Matteo.