Archbishops Of Braga - 4th Group

João Peculiar (1138-1175)

In 1138, João Peculiar rose to the position of Archbishop of Braga. From the moment he entered the archdiocese, the new prelate of Braga offered his loyal political support to Afonso Henriques, which, in 1140, led to peace between the two cousins: Afonso Henriques and Afonso VII. That same year, Afonso Henriques started to entitle himself king, with João Peculiar thus devoting his efforts to the defence of his metropolitical rights and to the recognition by the Roman Pontiff of the title of king to D. Afonso Henriques to such a degree that, more than once, he exposed himself to incurring the penalty of suspension for not abiding by the orders of submission to the Archbishop of Toledo, not having been granted the grace of seeing his great objective attained.

As for the archdiocese of Braga, for which he was responsible in pastoral terms, as well as continuing the reorganisation efforts begun by his predecessors as a reaction against the claim of the Second Council of the Lateran, in 1145, he began the process of division of assets, revenues and churches, until then shared, which resulted in two committees – capitular and episcopal. The meeting of bishops of his province, in 1148, the support given to the Religious and Military Orders of the Knights Hospitaller and Templar, and the canonisation of Saint Theotonius, in 1163, are also among his many feats.

It cannot be ignored that this dynamic prelate is one of the great figures of Portuguese history of the 12th century, particularly for the support he gave our first king, Afonso Henriques, both in military and political aspects, with special focus on relations with the Holy See in terms of obtaining full recognition of Portuguese autonomy and the defence of metropolitical dignity and the primateship of Braga.

Henry, Prince and Cardinal-King (1533-1540)

Cardinal-King Henry – son of King Manuel’s second marriage to Maria, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs – was born in Lisbon in 1512 and was Archbishop of Braga from 1533 to 1540.

He was thoroughly educated by renowned masters (Pedro Nunes, André de Resende and Nicolau Clenardo) and was soon well on his way to an ecclesiastical career. He took the first minor orders at the age of 14.

In 1533, aged just 21, he was appointed Archbishop of Braga following the death of Diogo de Sousa, a position he only occupied fully from 1537, after having turned 27 and been ordained presbyter. He remained there for some months, visiting a part of the diocese entrusted to the chaplain of the Royal House.

In 1539, he was consecrated as bishop, in Lisbon, and returned to Braga for full control of the diocese. Ingrained with a spirit of humanism and reform, he gave new impetus to the Public Studies and devoted particular attention to the moralisation of customs and to the discipline and instruction of the clergy. He ordered the clearing of a street leading from Campo de S. Tiago to the river Este, which was given the name Rua do Infante.

In 1540, he was named Archbishop of Évora, where he later founded that city's university, and in 1545 was promoted to Cardinal. In 1553, he was named Apostolic Legate in Portugal, and from 1562 to 1575, he was Archbishop of Lisbon. He resumed the archbishopric of Évora, from 1575 to 1578.

As the last legitimate descendent of the House of Avis, he was regent between 1562 and 1568, and King of Portugal from 1578 to 1580, the year of his death.

Eurico Dias Nogueira (1977-1999)

Eurico Dias Nogueira was born in Dornelas do Zêzere, Pampilhosa da Serra, on 6 March 1923. He was ordained as priest in the city of Mondego, in 1945. The same year, he went to Rome, where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University, graduating in Canonical Law. Back in Portugal, he graduated in Civil Law in Coimbra. He also studied Political and Economic Sciences, still in Coimbra.

He was called to the episcopacy in 1964, and given as a first mission the Mozambican diocese of Vila Cabral, present-day Lichinga. That year, he had the good fortune to participate in the third session of the Second Vatican Council.

In 1972, he changed diocese and was sent to Sá da Bandeira, present-day Lubango, in Angola. Three years later, he combined this responsibility with that of apostolic administrator of the recently-created diocese of Pereira de Eça, present-day Ondjiva. Chosen as pastor of the Archdiocese of Braga, he remained there, as Archbishop, between 1977 and 1999; a blessing for the Church, until his death on 19 May 2014.

He was honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (1990); received an “Honoris Causa” doctorate from the University of Minho (1990); was elected Member of the Portuguese Academy of History (1990) and Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (1990); and was honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order of Our Lady of Conception of Vila Viçosa and the Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Malta (1996).

In Braga, he left a legacy of elevation, culture, firmness of doctrine and morals. He was also ecumenical, a diplomat, and greatly skilled at dialogue. He knew how to sow peace, whether in the bosom of the church or in the midst of political turmoil, particularly intense following the carnation revolution.