Diocese of

Portalegre–Castelo Branco

Portugal Portugal

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Português) / Portalegren(sis)–Castri Albi (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Lisboa

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Santo António de Lisboa (June 13)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 6

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.10.07 – ...):Bishop Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp. (56)Bishop Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp. (56)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp. (56)Bishop Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp. (56)
(2025.10.07 – ...)

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal)

Born:1969.06.22 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1996.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:2025.11.16

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal) (2025.10.07 – ...)

Bishop Antonino Eugénio Fernandes Dias (76)Bishop Antonino Eugénio Fernandes Dias (76)
(2008.09.08 – 2025.10.07)

Bishop emeritus of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal)

Illum oportet crescere

Born:1948.12.15 (Longos Vales, Monção, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1974.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:2001.01.21

Priest of Braga (Portugal) (1974.06.13 – 2000.11.10)

Titular Bishop of Tamata (2000.11.10 – 2008.09.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Braga (Portugal) (2000.11.10 – 2008.09.08)

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal) (2008.09.08 – 2025.10.07)

Archbishop José Francisco Sanches Alves (84)Bishop José Francisco Sanches Alves (84) (later Archbishop)
(2004.04.22 – 2008.01.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Évora (Portugal)

Unxit me et misit me

Born:1941.04.20 (Lageosa da Raia, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1966.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:1998.05.31

Priest of Évora (Portugal) (1966.07.03 – 1998.03.07)

Titular Bishop of Hierpiniana (1998.03.07 – 2004.04.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lisboa (Portugal) (1998.03.07 – 2004.04.22)

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal) (2004.04.22 – 2008.01.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Évora (Portugal) (2008.01.08 – 2018.06.26)

Bishop Augusto César Alves Ferreira da Silva, C.M. (93)Bishop Augusto César Alves Ferreira da Silva, C.M. (93)
(1978.09.25 – 2004.04.22)

Bishop emeritus of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal)

Caritas urget

Born:1932.03.15 (Fervença-Celorico de Basto, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1960.07.24
Consecrated Bishop:1972.05.21

Bishop of Tete (Mozambique) (1972.02.19 – 1976.05.31)

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal) (1978.09.25 – 2004.04.22)

Bishop Agostinho Joaquim Lopes de Moura, C.S.Sp.
(1956.07.18 – 1978.09.25)

Born:1911.01.16 (Folhadela, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1934.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:1953.04.26
Died:1989.11.29 († 78)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1952.12.27 – 1956.07.18)

Bishop of Portalegre–Castelo Branco (Portugal) (1956.07.18 – 1978.09.25)

Bishops of Portalegre (Roman Rite)

Bishop Agostinho Joaquim Lopes de Moura, C.S.Sp.
(1952.12.27 – 1956.07.18)

(see above)

Bishop António Ferreira Gomes
(1949.07.06 – 1952.07.13)

In lumine tuo videmus lumen

Born:1906.05.10 (São Martinho de Melhundos, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1928.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:1948.05.02
Died:1989.04.13 (Ermesinde, Portugal † 82)

Titular Bishop of Rhandus (1948.01.15 – 1949.07.06)

Coadjutor Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1948.01.15 – 1949.07.06)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1949.07.06 – 1952.07.13)

Bishop of Porto (Portugal) (1952.07.13 – 1982.02.12)

Bishop Manuel Domingos Maria Frutuoso, O.P.
(1920.12.07 – 1949.07.06)

Born:1867.02.10 (Ribeira de Santarém, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1889.06.15
Consecrated Bishop:1920.12.27
Died:1949.07.06 († 82)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1920.12.07 – 1949.07.06)

Bishop Emanuele Mendes da Conceição Santos (later Archbishop)
(1915.12.09 – 1920.06.04)

Born:1876.12.13 (Olaia, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1899.05.27
Consecrated Bishop:1916.05.03
Died:1955.03.30 († 78)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1915.12.09 – 1920.06.04)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Évora (Portugal) (1920.06.04 – 1920.07.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Évora (Portugal) (1920.07.24 – 1955.03.30)

Bishop António Moutinho
(1909.03.04 – 1915.05.18)

Born:1862.12.27 (Águas Santas, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1885.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:1902.01.06
Died:1915.05.18 (Portalegre, Portugal † 52)

Titular Bishop of Argos (1901.08.18 – 1904.11.14)

Bishop-Prelate of Mozambique (Mozambique) (1901.08.18 – 1904.11.14)

Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde) (1904.11.14 – 1909.03.04)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1909.03.04 – 1915.05.18)

Archbishop Gaudêncio José Pereira
(1888.06.01 – 1906.11.02)

Born:1830.10.06 (Cristavao, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1854.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:1887.05.01
Died:1906.11.02 († 76)

Titular Archbishop of Mytilene (1887.03.14 – 1888.06.01)

Archbishop-Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1888.06.01 – 1906.11.02)

Bishop Manuel Bernardo de Sousa Enes (蘇)
(1885.07.30 – 1887.09.08)

Born:1814.11.05 (Topo, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1845.11.09
Consecrated Bishop:1874.12.27
Died:1887.09.08 (Portalegre, Portugal † 72)

Priest of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1845.11.09 – 1874.06.15)

Bishop of Macau 澳門 (Macau) (1874.06.15 – 1883.08.09)

Bishop of Bragança e Miranda (Portugal) (1883.08.09 – 1885.07.30)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1885.07.30 – 1887.09.08)

Bishop José Maria da Silva Ferrão de Carvalho Martens
(1883.08.09 – 1884.11.20)

Born:1815.04.08 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1839.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:1875.06.06
Died:1884.11.20 (Portalegre, Portugal † 69)

Bishop of Bragança e Miranda (Portugal) (1875.02.16 – 1883.08.09)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1883.08.09 – 1884.11.20)

Cardinal Guilherme Henriques de Carvalho
(Apostolic Administrator 1846 – 1857.11.15)

Bishop José Francisco da Soledade Bravo
(1832.02.24 – 1833.11.10)

Born:1768.04.12? (Serpa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1791.04.23
Consecrated Bishop:1832.06.10
Died:1833.11.10 († 65)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) ([1831.09.29] 1832.02.24 – 1833.11.10)

Bishop José Valério da Cruz
(1798.06.13 – 1826.08.17)

Born:1749.11.19 (Covilhã, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1781.03.10
Consecrated Bishop:1799.02.24
Died:1826.08.17 († 76)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1798.06.13 – 1826.08.17)

Bishop Manuel Tavares Coutinho e Silva
(1778.07.20 – 1798.04.07)

Born:1724.02.01 (Couto de Esteves, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1767.02.08
Consecrated Bishop:1778.09.13
Died:1798.04.07 († 74)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) ([1778.05.01] 1778.07.20 – 1798.04.07)

Bishop Pedro de Meio e Brito da Silveira Alvim
(1773.07.10 – 1777.11.22)

Born:1730.07.13? (Sinde, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1763.05.28
Consecrated Bishop:1773.10.03
Died:1777.11.22 († 47)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) ([1772.11] 1773.07.10 – 1777.11.22)

Bishop Jerónimo Rogado de Carvalhal e Silva
(1770.08.04 – 1773)

Born:1720.12.17 (Guarda, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1748.03.09
Consecrated Bishop:1770.10.14
Died:1797.02.19 († 76)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) ([1766.01.22] 1770.08.04 – 1773)

Bishop of Guarda (Portugal) (1773 – 1797.02.19)

Bishop João de Azevedo
(1748 – 1765.11.11)

Born:1698.01.11? (Braga, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:1748.11.03
Died:1765.11.11 († 67)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1748 – 1765.11.11)

Bishop Manuel Lopes Simões
(1741 – 1748.05.15)

Born:1676? (Cascais, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1700.03.06
Consecrated Bishop:1741.02.19
Died:1748.05.15 († 71)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1741 – 1748.05.15)

Bishop Álvaro Pires de Castro Noronha
(1711 – 1737.03.29)

Born:1669.04.26 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1698.04.13
Died:1737.03.29 († 67)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1711 – 1737.03.29)

Bishop Domingos Barata
(1707.08.01 – 1709.04.25)

Born:1650? (Serra da Estrela, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:1700.08.29
Died:1709.04.25 († 58)

Titular Bishop of Missene (1700.05.10 – 1707.08.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Évora (Portugal) (1700.05.10 – 1707.08.01)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1707.08.01 – 1709.04.25)

Bishop António de Saldanha
(1693.08.24 – 1705)

Born:1643.10.29? (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:1673.12.23
Consecrated Bishop:1694.01.31
Died:1711.06.28 († 67)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) ([1692] 1693.08.24 – 1705)

Bishop of Guarda (Portugal) (1705 – 1711.06.28)

Bishop João de Mascarenhas
(1686.04.01 – 1692.03.24)

Born:1648? (Lisboa, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:1686.07.28
Died:1693.01.24 († 44)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1686.04.01 – 1692.03.24)

Bishop of Guarda (Portugal) (1692.03.24 – 1693.01.24)

Bishop Ricardo Russell
(1671.07.01 – 1685.09.10)

Born:1630 (Berkshire, England)
Consecrated Bishop:1671.09.27
Died:1693.11.15 († 62)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1671.07.01 – 1685.09.10)

Bishop of Viseu (Portugal) (1685.09.10 – 1693.11.15)

Bishop João Mendes de Távora
(1632 – 1638.03.22)

Born:1596? (Lisboa, Portugal)
Died:1646.07.01 († 49)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1632 – 1638.03.22)

Bishop of Coimbra (Portugal) (1638.03.22 – 1646.07.01)

Bishop Lopo de Sequeira Pereira
(1619.04.22 – 1632)

Born:1573? (Elvas, Portugal)
Died:1636.08.04 († 62)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1619.04.22 – 1632)

Bishop of Guarda (Portugal) (1632 – 1636.08.04)

Bishop Rodrigo da Cunha (later Archbishop)
(1615.07.06 – 1618)

Born:1577.09 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:1615.11.08
Died:1643.01.03 († 65)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1615.07.06 – 1618)

Bishop of Porto (Portugal) (1618 – 1627.01.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Braga (Portugal) (1627.01.27 – 1635.12.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lisboa (Portugal) (1635.12.03 – 1643.01.03)

Bishop Diego Corrêa de Souza
(1598.02.16 – 1614.10.19)

Died:1614.10.19

Bishop of Ceuta y Tánger (Spain) (1585.07.15 – 1598.02.16)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1598.02.16 – 1614.10.19)

Bishop Amator Arais de Mendoza, O. Carm.
(1581.10.30 – 1598)

Born:1530 (Beja, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:1568?
Died:1600.08.01 (Coimbra, Portugal † 69)

Titular Bishop of Tripolis (1568.07.23 – 1581.10.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Évora (Portugal) (1568.07.23 – 1581.10.30)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1581.10.30 – 1598)

Bishop Andrés de Noronha
(1560.04.05 – 1581.09.11)

Born:1522? (Vila Real de Trás-os-Montes, Portugal)
Died:1586.08.03 († 63)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1560.04.05 – 1581.09.11)

Bishop of Plasencia (Spain) (1581.09.11 – 1586.08.03)

Bishop Julião de Alva
(1549.08.21 – 1560.04.05)

Born:1500 (Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain)
Died:1570.02.13 († 69)

Bishop of Portalegre (Portugal) (1549.08.21 – 1560.04.05)

Bishop of Miranda (Portugal) (1560.04.05 – 1564)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (191)

Santarém (←), Coimbra (↖), Guarda (↑), Coria–Cáceres (↗), Mérida–Badajoz (↘), Évora (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 9,149 km²

Population: 191,553 Catholics (95.8% of 200,025 total)

Pastoral Centres: 161 parishes, 322 missions

Personnel: 66 priests (52 diocesan, 14 religious), 15 deacons, 75 religious (14 brothers, 61 sisters), 2 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2025.11.23

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