Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Rui Manuel Sousa Valério as the new patriarch of Lisbon, succeeding Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente. The appointment comes shortly after the end of World Youth Day in Portugal’s capital. During the event, Pope Francis visited both Lisbon and Fátima from August 2 to 6, engaging with and addressing the large gathering of young Catholics who participated in the celebration. Bishop Valério, who has been a member of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary for over three decades, has been serving as the bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Portugal since late 2018. His appointment as patriarch of Lisbon follows the resignation of Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente, who stepped down after turning 75 years old.
Catholic News Agency reports:
Pope Francis on Thursday named Bishop Rui Manuel Sousa Valério as patriarch of Lisbon, just days after the conclusion of World Youth Day in the capital city of Portugal.
The pope on Aug. 10 also accepted the resignation of Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente, who has led the patriarchate since May 2013. Clemente turned 75 last month.
Valério, a member of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary for more than three decades, has been bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Portugal since the end of 2018.
The 58-year-old bishop was born in Ourém, in the Diocese of Leira-Fátima. He studied for the priesthood at two Rome universities, the Pontifical Lateran and the Pontifical Gregorian. He also completed a course in linguistics at a third university in Rome, and a course in spirituality at the Centre International Montfortain in Louvain, Belgium.
The pope’s appointment comes just days after the Patriarchate of Lisbon hosted hundreds of thousands of young Catholics for the celebration of World Youth Day Aug. 1–6. Francis also participated in the event, visiting the Portuguese capital as well as Fátima, from Aug. 2–6.
Clemente celebrated the opening Mass of WYD on Aug. 1, while Lisbon Auxiliary Bishop Américo Aguiar oversaw the planning of the major international event.
Read the full article here.
About Post Author
