| Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
| Funchal | |
| Latin: | Dioecesis Funchalensis |
| Local: | Diocese do Funchal |
| Coat Size: | 150px |
| Country: |  |
| Headquarters: | Largo Conde Ribeiro Real 49, Funchal |
| Province: | Lisbon |
| Metropolitan: | Patriarchate of Lisbon |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral: | Our Lady of the Assumption |
| Established: | 12 January 1514 (As Diocese of Funchal) 31 January 1533 (As Archdiocese of Funchal) 3 July 1551 (As Diocese of Funchal) |
| Patron: | James the Less |
| Language: | Portuguese |
| Area Km2: | 800 |
| Population: | 261,802[1] |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Catholics: | 250,300 |
| Catholics Percent: | 95,6 |
| Bishop: | Nuno I |
| Bishop Title: | Bishop of Funchal |
| Metro Archbishop: | Manuel III |
| Parishes: | 52 |
| Vicar General: | José Fiel de Sousa |
| Episcopal Vicar: | Carlos Duarte Lino Nunes |
| Judicial Vicar: | Marcos Fernandes Gonçalves |
| Emeritus Bishops: | Teodoro I and António III |
| Map: | Dioceses de Portugal.PNG |
| Website: | https://www.diocesedofunchal.com |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Priests: | 73 |
| Schools: | 18 |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Funchal (Latin: Dioecesis Funchalensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or patriarchal archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Portugal. It was originally created on 12 June 1514 by the papal bull Pro excellenti præeminentia from Pope Leo X, following the elevation of Funchal from a village to the status of city, by King Manuel I of Portugal (Royal Decree of 21 August 1508). The diocese was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lisbon.
Before the issuance of the papal bull, between 1433 and 1514 the civil and religious administrations were in charge of the Grand-Master of the Order of Christ. In fact all Portuguese Atlantic territories were under the jurisdiction of Order of Christ, until the situation changed in 1514 with the creation of the Diocese.
Once the diocese was created, the bishop of Funchal had jurisdiction over the entire area occupied by the Portuguese in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Thus, the Diocese comprised not only the Islands of Madeira, but all the territories discovered or to be discovered by the Portuguese. Thus, its jurisdiction extended throughout the western and eastern African territory, Brazil and Asia. Given its jurisdiction extent, the diocese's first bishop, D. Diogo Pinheiro used the title of Primate.
Nineteen years later, on 31 January 1533, the diocese was elevated to archiepiscopal rank. For twenty-two years it was, geographically, the largest metropolitan ecclesiastical province in the world,[2] having as suffragan dioceses: Azores, Brazil, Africa[3] and Goa. The first (and only) Archbishop was D. Martinho of Portugal, also held the title of Primate.
Following the Portuguese Empire's economic and social developments, new dioceses were created in 1534, whose areas were detached from the Diocese of Funchal: Goa, Angra, Santiago and São Tome, São Salvador da Bahia. Later, on January 31, 1533, the Diocese of Funchal was elevated to the category of metropolitan and primate. In 1551 Pope Julius III revoked the situation by passing Funchal to the simple suffrage bishopric of the Archdiocese of Lisbon, as it remains today.
The first bishop to visit the diocese was D. Ambrósio Brandão, in 1538, on behalf of the diocesan bishop D. Martinho of Portugal. After the death of D. Martinho de Portugal, the only archbishop of Funchal, the cathedral remained vacant until 1551. One year later, in 1552, Fr. Gaspar do Casal, who did not reside on the island, was appointed, and the most salient fact of his action was his participation in the Council of Trent. His successors, D. Jorge de Lemos, D. Jerónimo Barreto and D. Luís Figueiredo de Lemos, applied the Council and were the true workers of this reform.
The first bishop of Funchal to actually reside, full-time, after his appointment was D. Jorge de Lemos, in 1558.
Throughout its more than five centuries of history the diocese has only be headed by two Madeirans so far: D. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, who would then become Archbishop of Goa, and D. Teodoro de Faria.
Until the 20th century, the bishops of Funchal used the title of Bishop of Madeira, of Porto Santo, of Desertas and of Arguim. The seat of the Diocese of Funchal is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.
On 8 March 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed António Carrilho (António III) as Bishop of Funchal, until then Auxiliary Bishop of Porto. Together with Cardinal Fernando Filoni, António III, presided over the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the diocese on 17 May 2014.[4]
The current bishop of Funchal is Nuno I, who took office on February 17, 2019.
The diocese is currently organized into seven Archpriestships, which themselves are subdivided into a total of 96 parishes.[5]
| Funchal | Álamos | Saint John the Baptist |
| Bom Sucesso | Our Lady of the Good Event | |
| Coração de Jesus | Sacred Heart of Jesus | |
| Curral das Freiras | Our Lady of Deliverance | |
| Espírito Santo | Holy Ghost | |
| Fátima | Our Lady of Fátima | |
| Graça | Our Lady of Grace | |
| Imaculado Coração de Maria | Immaculate Heart of Mary | |
| Livramento | Our Lady of Deliverance | |
| Nazaré | Our Lady of Nazareth | |
| Nossa Senhora do Monte | Our Lady of Monte | |
| Piedade | ||
| Romeiros | Our Lady of Queen of the World | |
| Sagrade Family | Holy Family | |
| Santa Luzia | Saint Lucy | |
| Santa Maria Maior | Saint James the Less | |
| Santo Amaro | Saint Amaro | |
| Santo António | Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Padua | |
| São Gonçalo | Saint Gundisalvus of Amarante | |
| São José | Saint Joseph | |
| São Martinho | Saint Martin of Tours | |
| São Pedro | Saint Peter | |
| São Roque | Saint Roch | |
| Sé | Our Lady of Assumption | |
| Visitação | Our Lady of Visitation | |
| Vitória e Santa Rita | Our Lady of Victory and Saint Rita | |
| Igreja do Colégio | Saint Jonh the Evangelist | |
| Porto Santo | Piedade | Our Lady of Sorrows |
| Espiríto Santo | Holy Ghost | |
| Câmara de Lobos | Câmara de Lobos | Saint Sebastian |
| Carmo | Our Lady of Mount Carmel | |
| Encarnação | Our Lady of Incarnation | |
| Estreito de Câmara de Lobos | Our Lady of Grace | |
| Garachico | Our Lady of the Good Event | |
| Quinta Grande | Our Lady of Remedies | |
| Santa Cecília | Saint Cecilia | |
| São Tiago | Saint James the Less | |
| Santana | Arco de São Jorge | Saint Joseph |
| Faial | Our Lady of the Nativity | |
| Ilha | Our Lady of the Rosary | |
| Porto da Cruz | ||
| Santana | Saint Anne | |
| São Jorge | Saint George | |
| São Roque do Faial | Saint Roch | |
| Santa Cruz and Machico | Achada | Our Lady of Grace |
| Água de Pena | Saint Beatrix | |
| Assomada | ||
| Bom Caminho | Our Lady of the Good Path | |
| Camacha | Saint Lawrence | |
| Caniçal | Saint Sebastian | |
| Caniço | Holy Ghost and Saint Anthony the Great | |
| Eiras | Our Lady of Peace | |
| Gaula | Our Lady of Light | |
| João Ferino | Our Lady of Health | |
| Lombada | Our Lady of Fátima | |
| Machico | Immaculate Conception | |
| Piquinho | Saint Joseph | |
| Preces | Our Lady of Prayers | |
| Ribeira Seca | Our Lady of Amparo | |
| Rochão | Our Lady of Mount Carmel | |
| Santa Cruz | Saint Salvador | |
| Santo da Serra | Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Padua | |
| Ribeira Brava | Campanário | Saint Blaise |
| Canhas | Our Lady of Piety | |
| Carvalhal | Our Lady of Fátima | |
| Conceição | Immaculate Conception | |
| Cristo Rei | Christ the King | |
| Madalena do Mar | Mary Magdalene | |
| Ponta do Sol | Our Lady of Light | |
| Ribeira Brava | Saint Benedict | |
| São João | Saint Jonh the Baptist | |
| São Paulo | Saint Paul | |
| Serra de Água | Our Lady of Help | |
| Tabua | Holy Trinity | |
| Calheta | Amparo | Our Lady of Amparo |
| Arco da Calheta | Saint Blaise | |
| Atouguia | Saint Jonh the Baptist | |
| Calheta | Holy Ghost | |
| Estreito da Calheta | Our Lady of Grace | |
| Fajã da Ovelha | Saint Jonh the Baptist | |
| Jardim do Mar | Our Lady of the Rosary | |
| Loreto | Our Lady of Loreto | |
| Paul do Mar | Saint Amaro | |
| Ponta do Pargo | Saint Peter | |
| Prazeres | Our Lady of Snow | |
| Raposeira | Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Padua | |
| São Francisco Xavier | Saint Francis Xavier | |
| São Vicente and Porto Moniz | Achadas da Cruz | Our Lady of Livramento |
| Boaventura | Saint Quiteria | |
| Fajã do Penedo | Immaculate Heart of Mary | |
| Feiteiras | Our Lady of Peace | |
| Lameiros | Our Lady of Health | |
| Ponta Delgada | Our Lord Good Jesus | |
| Porto Moniz | Immaculate Conception | |
| Ribeira da Janela | Our Lady of Incarnation | |
| Rosário | Our Lady of the Rosary | |
| Santa | Mary Magdalene | |
| São Vicente | Saint Vincent | |
| Seixal | Saint Anthony the Great |
St. James the Less was chosen as Patron Saint[6] of the Diocese time when Funchal faced various periods of plague in the 16th century.
In 1521, a severe plague spread throughout the city. Although local authorities, at the time, had sought to isolate the sick in order to control the plague outbreak, the efforts made seemed to be vain.
Gaspar Frutuoso, in his book Saudades da Terra accounts that "the city's Chapter and Senate resolved to choose by random ballot a patron saint among the Apostles... After having prayed before God, a boy named John picked a note, where the name of James Minor was written, and they soon rejoiced all over the city."[7] [8]
Two years later, the civil authorities and the Dean of the Chapter met again in Funchal's Cathedral and confirmed the choice made of St. James Minor as their patron, with the commitment to celebrate him every year in his chapel with mass and procession in the Cathedral first day of May.
The diocese directly runs one higher education institution, one theological school and several other schools on the Autonomous Region of Madeira.[9]
Schools and High Schools
The Sacred Art Museum of Funchal, run by the diocese is housed in the former Episcopal Palace, founded by D. Luís Figueiredo de Lemos in 1594. The building was designed by Jerónimo Jorge, Master of Royal Works, who worked in the conception and design of defenses of the city of Funchal. From the primitive building, a section still survives, on the current square of the Municipality and Rua do Bispo. Mannerist sobriety is clearly visible in the northern arch or in the Chapel of Saint Louis of Toulosa, which has an inscription on the façade with the name of its founder, D. Luís de Figueiredo Lemos and dated 1600. D. António Teles da Silva, Bishop of Funchal, carried out new improvement works, between 1675-1682.[10] [11]
With the visit of the Ajuda Palace's Curator Manuel Cayola Zagallo, the diocese became more and more aware of the importance of the Flemish Art collection it owned and that was spread throughout the churches and chapels of its territory. With the unequivocal support from the diocese and the public entities of the time, the identified works were sent to be restore in Lisbon.
After important conservation and restoration work by Fernando Mardel, the paintings were exhibited in Lisbon at the National Museum of Ancient Art in 1949. They would later integrate the Funchal Museum of Sacred Art, inaugurated in 1955. To this set were added other works, especially of Goldsmithing, Ecclesiastic Garments and Sculpture, mostly from Portuguese workshops, which were, in many cases out of worship and in poor condition, in many churches of the diocese, and which became part of the Museum's collections. The Museum's collection include works attributed to painter such as Gerard David, Dieric Bouts, Joos Van Cleve, Jan Provoost and Pieter de Coeck Van Aelst.[12]
Together with the Regional Government of Madeira the diocese promotes, by allowing its churches to act as concert venues,[13] for the island's Organ Festival. This festival is usually organized in a set of twelve concerts, headlined by nationally and internationally renowned Master Organ players.[14]
The diocese of Funchal runs a radio station (PEF - Posto Emissor de Rádio Difusão do Funchal), that broadcasts the news from Rádio Renascença, and an online newspaper (Jornal da Madeira).
1. D. Diego Pinheiro Lobo (1514–1526)
2. D. Martinho de Portugal (1533–1547)
3. D. Frei Gaspar (I) do Casal (1551–1556)
4. D. Frei Jorge de Lemos (1556–1569)
5. D. Frei de Távora (1569–1573)
6. D. Jerónimo (I) Barreto (1573–1585), appointed Bishop of Faro
7. D. Luís (I) de Figueiredo e Lemos (1585–1608)
8. D. Frei Lourenço de Távora (1610–1617), appointed Bishop of Elvas
9. D. Jerónimo (II) Fernando (1619–1650)
10. D. Frei Gabriel de Almeida (1670–1674)
11. D. Frei António (I) Teles da Silva (1674–1682)
12. D. Estêvão Brioso de Figueiredo (1683–1689)
13. D. Frei José (I) de Santa Maria (1690–1696), appointed Bishop of Porto
14. D. José (I) de Sousa Castelo Branco (1698–1725)
15. D. Frei Manuel (I) Coutinho (1725–1741), appointed Bishop of Lamego
16. D. Frei João (I) do Nascimento (1741–1753)
17. D. Gaspar (II) Afonso da Costa Brandão (1756–1784)
18. D. José (III) da Costa Torres (1784–1796), appointed Bishop of Elvas
19. D. Luís (II) Rodrigues Vilares (1796–1811)
20. D. João (II) Joaquim Bernardino de Brito (1817–1819)
21. D. Francisco (I) José Rodrigues de Andrade (1821–1838)
22. D. José (IV) Xavier de Cerveira e Sousa (1844–1849), appointed Bishop of Beija
23. D. Manuel (II) Martins Manso (1849–1858), appointed Bishop of Guarda
24. D. Patrício Xavier de Moura (1859–1872)
25. D. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (1872–1874), appointed Archbishop of Goa, India
26. D. Manuel (III) Agostinho Barreto (1876–1911)
27. D. António (II) Manuel Pereira Ribeiro (1914–1957)
28. D. Frei David de Sousa, OFM (1957–1965), appointed Archbishop of Évora
29. D. João (III) António da Silva Saraiva (1965–1972), appointed Bishop of Coimbra
30. D. Francisco (II) Antunes Santana (1974–1982)
31. D. Teodoro de Faria (1982–2007)
32. D. António (III) José Cavaco Carrilho (2007–2019)
33. D. Nuno Brás da Silva Martins (2019–present)
On March 23, 2019, the Diocese announced through its Facebook page[15] and on a historical note on its website[16] [17] its coat of arms. The arms were designed by Miguel Pinto-Correia[18] [19] following the economist's open letter to the Bishop published in the regional newspaper,[20] suggesting that the Diocese should adopt a coat of arms on 600th anniversary of the discovery of Madeira.
| Diocese of Funchal | |
| Year Adopted: | 2019 |
| Coronet: | Bishop's Mitre |
| Escutcheon: | Tierced in Mantle, Gules, Azure and Or; in Dexter an open Book Or with the letters Alpha and Omega Gules inscribed on each side, in Sinister an 8 Pointed-Star Argent, in base a Cross of the Order of Christ proper over Waves of Argent and Azure. |
| Supporters: | A Croizer and Ceremonial Cross Or |
| Motto: | Diocese do Funchal |
| Symbolism: | The book represents the diocese's patron saint, St. James the Less. The red his martyrdom, the life made gift. The 8-pointed star represents Our Lady of the Monte and the blue colour symbolizes Our Lady, as Mother of God. The Cross of Christ represents the centrality of Christ and at the same time, it recalls the boat of Peter (Church) that navigates and goes in the dynamism of mission, of evangelization. The yellow is a tribute to the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the waves remind its emigrants spread all over the world. The waves also represent the archipelago. |