Patriarch of Lisbon explained

Titleoverride:
Patriarca de
Archbishopric:Lisboa
Border:catholic
Jurisdiction:Patriarch
Lisbon
Latin:Patriarcha Olisiponensis
Coat:Coat of arms of Rui Manuel Sousa Valério (Lisboa).svg
Incumbent:Patriarch Rui I of Lisbon
Province:Patriarchate of Lisbon
Established:1716
Cathedral:Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Mary Major
First Incumbent:Tomás de Almeida
Diocese:Patriarchate of Lisbon
Country:Portugal
Denomination:Catholic

The Patriarch of Lisbon (Latin: Patriarcha Olisiponensis, Portuguese: Patriarca de Lisboa), also called the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon once he has been made cardinal, is the ordinary bishop of the Archdiocese of Lisbon. He is one of the few patriarchs in the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, along with the Patriarchs of Venice, the East Indies, and Jerusalem.

The diocese of Lisbon was created in the 4th century, but it lay vacant after 716 when the city was captured by the Moors; the diocese was restored when the city was captured by king Afonso I of Portugal during the Second Crusade in 1147. In 1393, Lisbon was raised to the dignity of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Boniface IX with the papal bull In eminentissimae dignitatis.[1] In 1716, at the request of King John V, Pope Clement XI issued the bull In Supremo Apostolatus Solio granting the rank of Patriarch to the King's Chaplain, who had since been made Archbishop of West Lisbon.

The bull Inter praecipuas apostolici ministerii, issued by Pope Clement XII in 1737, established that whoever was appointed Patriarch of Lisbon was to be elevated to the rank of cardinal at the next consistory.[2] Lisbon is the only episcopal see to enjoy this distinction, while other patriarchs are made cardinals by custom only.

Insignia of the Metropolitan Patriarch of Lisbon

The See of Lisbon has been granted extraordinary ceremonial privileges. The Patriarchs of Lisbon were entitled to unique rights of vesture and ceremony that imitated the grandeur of the papal court: notably, the cassocks of his cathedral canons were scarlet[3] (like those of cardinals), and his chapter has three orders like those of the College of Cardinals.

Among the unique privileges granted to the Patriarch of Lisbon (and never withdrawn, though most have fallen into disuse) were the right to wear the fanon, subcinctorium and falda, vestments otherwise reserved for the Pope. A unique mitre, similar to the papal tiara, was conceded at the same time. The Patriarch was also allowed to use a sedia gestatoria along with two flabella for processions — the practice of receiving Holy Communion at the throne in solemn Masses was not conceded to the Patriarch of Lisbon, however.[4]

Also notably, the Patriarch of Lisbon can use a papal tiara (without the cross keys of Saint Peter) over his coat of arms.

List of Patriarchs of Lisbon

  1. Tomás de Almeida (1716–1754)
  2. José (I) Manoel da Câmara (1754–1758)
  3. Francisco (I) de Saldanha da Gama (1758–1776)
  4. Fernando de Sousa da Silva (1779–1786)
  5. José (II) Francisco Miguel António de Mendonça (1786–1808)
  6. António de São José de Castro (1808-1814) (never consecrated)
  7. Carlos da Cunha e Menezes (1819–1825)
  8. Patrício da Silva (1826–1840)
  9. Francisco (II) de São Luís (Francisco Justiniano) Saraiva (1840–1845)
  10. Guilherme Henriques de Carvalho (1845–1857)
  11. Manuel (I) Bento Rodrigues da Silva (1858–1869)
  12. Inácio do Nascimento de Morais Cardoso (1871–1883)
  13. José (III) Sebastião de Almeida Neto (1883–1907)
  14. António (I) Mendes Belo (1907–1929)
  15. Manuel (II) Gonçalves Cerejeira (1929–1971)
  16. António (II) Ribeiro (1971–1998)
  17. José (IV) da Cruz Policarpo (1998–2013)
  18. Manuel (III) José Macário do Nascimento Clemente (2013–2023)
  19. Rui (I) Manuel Sousa Valério (2023–present)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: História da diocese de Lisboa contada pelo novo patriarca (II): da reconquista cristã à separação de Compostela . Manuel Clemente . Manuel Clemente . 2013 . Secretariado Nacional da Pastoral da Cultura . pt . The History of the Diocese of Lisbon, as told by the new Patriarch (II): from the Christian reconquest to the separation from Compostela .
  2. Web site: Notas históricas sobre o Tricentenário do Patriarcado de Lisboa . pt . Historical notes on the Tricentennial of the Patriarchate of Lisbon . Manuel Clemente . Manuel Clemente . 1 July 2016 . Patriarchate of Lisbon . 11 March 2018 .
  3. Book: Chadwick, Owen . 1980 . The Popes and European Revolution . registration . Oxford . Oxford University Press . 352 . 0-19-826919-6 .
  4. Book: King, Archdale A. . 1957 . Liturgy of the Roman Church . Longmans, Green and Company . 162 .