View source for Catholic Church in Portugal

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| icon                = Emblem_of_the_Papacy_SE.svg
| icon_width          = 25px
| icon_alt            =
| name                = Catholic Church in Portugal
| native_name         = {{langx|pt|Igreja Católica em Portugal}}
| native_name_lang    = pt
| image               = Lisboa_May_2013-1.jpg
| imagewidth          = 200px
| alt                 = 
| caption             = [[Lisbon Cathedral|Cathedral of Saint Mary Major]], the seat of the [[Patriarch of Lisbon|Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon]]
| abbreviation        = 
| type                = [[National polity]]
| main_classification = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| orientation         = [[Latin Church|Latin]]
| scripture           = [[Bible]]
| theology            = [[Catholic theology]]
| polity              = 
| governance          = [[Episcopal Conference of Portugal]]
| structure           =
| leader_title        = [[Pope]]
| leader_name         = {{incumbent pope}}
| leader_title1       = Primate
| leader_name1        = [[Jorge Ortiga]]
| leader_title2       = [[Patriarch of Lisbon]]
| leader_name2        = [[Rui Valério|D. Rui Valério]]
| leader_title3       = [[Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal|Apostolic Nuncio]]
| leader_name3        = [[Ivo Scapolo]]
| fellowships_type    =
| fellowships         = 
| fellowships_type1   =
| fellowships1        =
| division_type       =
| division            =
| division_type1      =
| division1           =
| division_type2      =
| division2           =
| division_type3      =
| division3           =
| associations        = 
| area                = [[Portugal]]
| language            = [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Ecclesiastical Latin|Latin]]
| headquarters        = [[Lisbon Cathedral]]
| origin_link         =
| founder             = [[St. Peter of Rates]]
| founded_date        = 44 A.D.
| founded_place       = [[Lusitania]], [[Roman Empire]]
| separated_from      = 
| parent              = 
| merger              = 
| absorbed            =
| separations         = 
| merged_into         =
| defunct             =
| congregations_type  = 
| congregations       = 
| members             =  
| ministers_type      =
| ministers           = 
| missionaries        =
| churches            =
| hospitals           = 
| nursing_homes       = 
| aid                 = 
| primary_schools     = 
| secondary_schools   = 
| tax_status          =
| tertiary            = 
| other_names         = 
| publications        = 
| website             = [http://www.agencia.ecclesia.pt Episcopal Conference of Portugal]
| slogan              =
| logo                =
| footnotes           = 
}}
{{Catholic Church by country}}
{{Catholic Church sidebar}}

The '''Portuguese Catholic Church''', or '''Catholic Church in Portugal''', is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]] in communion with the [[Pope]] in [[Holy See|Rome]], under the [[Portuguese Episcopal Conference]]. The Catholic Church is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] organisation. It is Portugal's largest religion and its former state religion, and has existed in the territory since the [[Iberian Peninsula]] was ruled by the [[Roman Empire]].

There are an estimated nine million baptised Catholics in Portugal (84% of the population) in twenty [[diocese]]s, served by 2789 [[priest]]s. Although a large number wish to be baptized, married in the church, and receive last rites, only 19% of the national population attend Mass and take the sacraments regularly.

In 2010, the average age of priests was 62.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/popes-trip-highlights-changing-face-of-europes-catholics/19477924|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620093056/http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/popes-trip-highlights-changing-face-of-europes-catholics/19477924|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-06-20|title=Pope's Trip Highlights Changing Face of Europe's Catholics|date=2010-06-20|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> In 2012 88% of the Portuguese population considered themselves Catholic in a commissioned survey of religious attitudes sponsored by a Christian organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_393_en.pdf|title=EuroBarometer|accessdate=29 March 2023}}</ref>

==History==
[[Western Christianity]] was introduced to the province of [[Lusitania]], what is now Portugal under the [[Roman Empire]] in the first half of the first millennium AD. The present-day Portuguese state was founded in 1139 by [[Afonso I of Portugal|King Afonso Henriques]] during the ''[[Reconquista]]'', in which the Christian kingdoms of the northern [[Iberian Peninsula]] reconquered the South from the [[Cordoba Caliphate]] of the [[Sunni Muslim]] Moors. [[Crusaders]] from other Catholic realms aided the reconquest, which Portugal finished in 1249 with the conquest of [[Algarve]].

After the [[Fall of Constantinople]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]], [[Portuguese discoveries]] in the [[Age of Exploration]], would lead to the establishment of the [[Portuguese Empire]] from the early 15th century onwards, spreading Catholicism to Portuguese colonies in [[Conquest of Ceuta|Ceuta]] on the [[Barbary coast]] of North Africa, [[Sub-Saharan Africa]], the [[East Indies]] in [[Asia]], and [[South America]]. The [[Lusophone]] countries of [[Angola]], [[Brazil]], [[Cape Verde]], [[Mozambique]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], and [[Timor-Leste]] all have Catholic majorities as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html#po |title=CIA - The World Factbook -- Field Listing - Religions |website=www.cia.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003300/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html |archive-date=2007-06-13}}</ref> The [[Primate of the East Indies]]  based in the [[Portuguese Goa]] of early-[[modern India]] was part of the [[Portuguese Empire in the East]], and a significant [[Latin Church in India|Latin Christian]] minority remains in the Indian subcontinent, the most prominent of which are [[Goan Catholics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/content/people-goa |title=People of Goa &#124; iGoa |access-date=2013-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723211038/http://www.navhindtimes.in/content/people-goa |archive-date=2013-07-23 }}</ref> [[Bombay East Indian]] Christians, [[Mangalorean Christians]] and [[Latin Catholics of Malabar|Latin Christians of Malabar]] are also among the lesser-known [[New Christian]] converts in the Eastern hemisphere.

The church supported the [[Miguelist]] faction during the [[Liberal Wars]] of 1828-1834.

In 1910, the [[First Portuguese Republic|Portuguese Republic]] abolished the policy of having the [[Latin Church]] as the [[state religion]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Souza|first=Teotonio R. de|title=The Portuguese Saints: St Teotonio to St Nuno|url=https://www.academia.edu/2400528|language=en}}</ref> in favour of [[secularism]]. However, the right-wing [[Salazar regime]] from 1932 to 1974 re-established Catholicism as the state religion, which had repercussions such as the [[Annexation of Goa and Damaon]], after which the system was subsequently disestablished along with the regime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Portugal.html|title=Culture of Portugal - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family|website=www.everyculture.com|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>

===Sexual abuse===
In 2021 the Portuguese Catholic Bishops' Conference established an independent committee for the investigation of any [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|sexual abuse of minors]] within the Portuguese church, the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church in Portugal began its work in January 2022 and issued its final report in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://darvozaosilencio.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110212343/https://darvozaosilencio.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 10, 2022|title=Início|website=Dar Voz ao Silêncio|accessdate=29 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/independent-report-estimates-nearly-5000-abuse-victims-in-portugal/ | title=Independent report estimates nearly 5000 abuse victims in Portugal | date=14 February 2023 }}</ref> The commission was led by child psychologist Pedro Strecht who headed a 'multidisciplinary and gender-balanced' investigative panel which sought participation from members of the public who had experienced abuse in institutions run by the Church, such as parishes, schools, orphanages or hospitals, or who had otherwise been abused at the hands of a minister or employee of the Church.<ref name="auto">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20230213204714/https://darvozaosilencio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SUMARIO_EN.pdf Giving Silence A Voice]}}</ref> The commission received 564 testimonies, of which it held 512 to be verified, relating to incidents of abuse which occurred between 1950 and the commission's establishment in 2021.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230213-catholic-clergy-in-portugal-sexually-abused-nearly-5-000-children-since-1950-inquiry-finds | title=Catholic clergy in Portugal sexually abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950, inquiry finds | date=13 February 2023 }}</ref> From these testimonies the Commission identified that around 77% of alleged perpetrators were priests with 57% of victims as males, most of whom aged between 10 and 14.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/more-than-100-priests-suspected-abuse-remain-active-portugals-catholic-church-2023-02-14/ | title=More than 100 priests suspected of abuse remain active in Portugal's Catholic Church | newspaper=Reuters | date=14 February 2023 | last1=Demony | first1=Catarina }}</ref> Commission president Strecht extrapolated that the figure of victims likely stood at around 5000 individuals, and further proposed that as many 100 priests in active ministry as of February 2023 had been credibly accused of abuse. He stated that the commission would submit the names of these priests to the Church and public prosecutor in due course.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-b2281159.html | title=Catholic church sex abuse probe finds 512 alleged victims in Portugal | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=13 February 2023 }}</ref> Following the report's publication, 25 serving priests have been reported to the office of public prosecutions.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-02/portugal-sexual-abuse-minors-report-bishops-conference-commissio.html | title=Portuguese Church sexual abuse report released - Vatican News | date=13 February 2023 }}</ref>

The president of the Portuguese Catholic Bishops' Conference, Josè Ornelas, responded to the report's publication with words of apology and confirmed the Portuguese bishops' intention to implement the report's recommendations.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Organization==
Within Portugal, the hierarchy consists of [[archbishop]]s and [[bishop]]s.  At the top of the hierarchy is the archbishop who is known as the [[Patriarch of Lisbon]]. The remainder of the [[diocese]]s of Portugal, each headed by a bishop, includes:

*[[Patriarchate of Lisbon|Lisbon]] (with the dignity of [[Patriarchate]])
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Angra|Angra]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Funchal|Funchal]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Guarda|Guarda]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Leiria–Fátima|Leiria-Fátima]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Portalegre-Castelo Branco|Portalegre-Castelo Branco]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Santarém, Portugal|Santarém]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Setúbal|Setúbal]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Braga]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Aveiro|Aveiro]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bragança-Miranda|Bragança-Miranda]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Coimbra|Coimbra]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lamego|Lamego]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Porto|Porto]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Viana do Castelo|Viana do Castelo]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Vila Real|Vila Real]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Viseu|Viseu]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Évora|Évora]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Beja|Beja]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Faro|Faro]]

==Sites==
[[File:20190529 Spain and Portugal El Camino Pilgrimage 1063 (48002601588).jpg|thumb|left|265px|[[Eucharist]]ic celebration at the world famous [[Sanctuary of Fátima|Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima]].]]
Portugal is the location of one of the major Catholic [[shrines]] and [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Marian]] [[Christian pilgrimage|pilgrimage]] sites, at [[Fátima, Portugal|Fátima]], honouring [[Our Lady of Fátima]].

The northern city of [[Braga]] is an important Catholic centre. A Portuguese saying which lists characteristics of different cities states that "Coimbra studies, Braga prays, Lisbon shows off and Porto works".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/portugal/porto|title=Insight Guides|website=www.insightguides.com|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> Besides the [[Braga Cathedral|Cathedral of Braga]], it also has the [[Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte]] and the [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro]].

One of the routes on the [[Way of St. James]], a major Catholic pilgrimage to the [[Santiago de Compostela Cathedral]] in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Spain]], is the Portuguese route ({{langx|pt|Caminho Português}}), starting from [[Lisbon Cathedral]] and spanning 610&nbsp;km. Among those who have taken it was Queen [[Elizabeth of Portugal]], who was canonized, in the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csj.org.uk/route-camino-portugues.htm |title=Overview: Camino Portugués |access-date=2014-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911141606/http://www.csj.org.uk/route-camino-portugues.htm |archive-date=2014-09-11 }}</ref>

==Portuguese Popes==
Two popes were born in what is now Portugal, though only the second one was ever a subject of a country by that name. [[Damasus I]] was born in what is now Portugal in 306. His reign as pope from 366 to 384 saw the Scriptures translated to [[Latin]]. He is honoured as a saint, with his feast celebrated on December 11.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=41|title=Pope Saint Damasus I - Saints & Angels|website=Catholic Online|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref>

Pedro Julião, born in [[Lisbon]] around 1215, led the church as Pope [[John XXI]] from 1276 to 1277.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Siege of Lisbon by Roque Gameiro.jpg|The [[Siege of Lisbon]] in 1147, part of the [[Reconquista]] ([[Crusades]])
File:Cristo Rei (36211699613).jpg|The [[Christ the King (Almada)|National Sanctuary of Christ the King]]
File:Virgen de Fátima.JPG|[[Our Lady of Fátima]] is the greatest Marian devotion in Portugal
File:Pope Damasus I.jpg|[[Pope Damasus I]] was from Roman [[Lusitania]], now Portugal
File:Pope John XXI.jpg|[[Pope John XXI]], born in [[Lisbon]] in c. 1215
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Catholic University of Portugal]]
*[[Dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal]]
*[[Ecclesiastical history of Braga]]
*[[List of cathedrals in Portugal]]
*[[Portuguese Inquisition]]
*[[Religion in Portugal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Catholic dioceses in Portugal}}
{{Our Lady of Fátima}}
{{Catholicism in Europe}}
{{Christianity in Portugal}}
{{Religion in Portugal}}

[[Category:Catholic Church in Portugal| ]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in Europe|Portugal]]
[[Category:Catholic Church by country|Portugal]]
[[Category:Culture of Portugal]]