Complex sentence: He replaced Cardinal Hummes, who was made Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, and thus brought an end to almost four decades of Franciscan leadership of the archdiocese; before Hummes, Paulo Evaristo Arns had helmed the diocese for 28 years.
Split into simpler sentences: He replaced Cardinal Hummes, who was made Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. His appointment brought an end to almost four decades of Franciscan leadership of the archdiocese; before Hummes, Paulo Evaristo Arns led the diocese for 28 years.