| Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
| Portalegre-Castelo Branco | |
| Latin: | Dioecesis Portalegrensis-Castri Albi |
| Local: | Diocese de Portalegre-Castelo Branco |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Province: | Lisbon |
| Metropolitan: | Patriarchate of Lisbon |
| Area Km2: | 9,150 |
| Population: | 250,541 |
| Population As Of: | 2004 |
| Catholics: | 248,923 |
| Catholics Percent: | 99.4 |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Established: | 2 April 1550 (As Diocese of Portalegre) 18 July 1956 (As Diocese of Portalegre-Castelo Branco) |
| Cathedral: | Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Portalegre |
| Cocathedral: | Cathedral of St Michael in Cathedral of Castelo Branco |
| Patron: | St Augustine of Hippo |
| Bishop: | Antonino Eugénio Fernandes Dias |
| Metro Archbishop: | Manuel III |
| Suffragan: | for one --> |
| Archdeacon: | for one--> |
| Emeritus Bishops: | Augusto César Alves Ferreira da Silva Bishop Emeritus (1978-2004) |
| Map: | Di%C3%B3cesis_de_Portalegre-Castelo_Branco.svg |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| Website: | Website of the Diocese |
The Diocese of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Latin: Dioecesis Portalegrensis–Castri Albi) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic church in Portugal. It has carried this name since 1956, when the historical diocese of Portalegre was renamed. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Lisbon.[1]
Portalegre was established as a see by Pope Julius III, in 1550, taking territory from the archdiocese of Évora and diocese of Guarda. Its first bishop was Julian d'Alva, a Spaniard, who was transferred to the diocese of Miranda in 1557. On 17 July 1560, Andiz' de Noronha succeeded to the diocese, but he was promoted to the diocese of Placencia in 1581. Frei Amador Arraes, the next bishop, was a Carmelite and the author of a celebrated book of Dialogues;[2] he resigned in 1582, and retired to the college of his order in Coimbra, where he remained till his death. Lopo Soares de Albergaria and Frei Manoel de Gouveia died before receiving the Bulls confirming their nomination.
Diego Conra, nephew of the Venerable Bartholomew of the Martyrs and Bishop of Ceuta, became bishop in 1598, and died on 9 October 1614. Among the bishops of Portalegre during the seventeenth century was Ricardo Russell, an Englishman, who took possession of the see on 17 September 1671, and was subsequently transferred to the diocese of Vizeu.
In 1881 the territory of the Diocese of Castelo Branco and Diocese of Elvas was added, when these were suppressed. Antonio Mutinho was transferred from the diocese of Caboverde in 1909.
Erected: April 2, 1550
Name Changed: July 18, 1956