Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente was born on 16 July 1948 in Torres Vedras, in the Patriarchate of Lisbon. After earning a history degree at the University of Lisbon, he entered the Patriarchal Seminary Cristo Rei dos Olivais and earned a doctorate in theology, with a specialisation in historical theology, at the Catholic University of Portugal. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1979 for the Patriarchate of Lisbon, and served as vice-rector and rector of the Major Seminary and as a professor of theology at the Catholic University.
Appointed titular Bishop of Pinhel and Auxiliary of Lisbon on 6 November 1999, he was ordained a bishop on 22 January 2000. On 22 February 2007 Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Porto. Pope Francis appointed him Patriarch of Lisbon on 18 May 2013, and he served as President of the Bishops' Conference of Portugal from 19 June 2013. A church historian who has authored numerous publications, he has been a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication since 2012.
Pope Francis created him a cardinal in the consistory of 14 February 2015, assigning him the titular church of Sant'Antonio in Campo Marzio. In his final weeks as patriarch he hosted World Youth Day in Lisbon in August 2023, celebrating the opening Mass on 1 August; on 10 August 2023 Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Patriarch of Lisbon. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, and is a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy.
Consequential Quotes
Let us learn from Mary to greet each and every person. Let us intensely put it to practice this World Youth Day. The new world begins in the newness of every encounter and in the sincerity of the greeting we exchange, so that we may be people among people, in a mutual and constant visitation.
All of you also set out. For many it was a difficult journey due to the distance, the connections, and the costs that the trip required. It was necessary to bring together resources, organize activities to obtain them, and rely on solidarity, which, thanks to God, was not lacking.
Christians also carry him, spiritually and actually because they receive him in the word, the sacraments, and in charity, where he offers himself. Since we believe in Jesus as a path to God, we walk with him to bring him to others.
Virtual reality keeps us seated in front of things that easily use us when we think we use them. Quite to the contrary, reality consists in going out to encounter others and the world as it is.
We welcome those who are with us not only in the faith, but in life.
From the very beginning at Lisbon Patriarchate, I gave instructions for zero tolerance and total transparency to be a rule known to all. Care and concern for the victims is what should chiefly move us in this matter, and I regret all the suffering the situation may have caused to this victim — and to all others we know or do not know.
Major Works & Initiatives
Nas origens do apostolado contemporâneo em Portugal: A Sociedade Católica (1843–1853)
His doctoral research on the Catholic Society (1843–1853), published at Braga by the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in 1993 and listed in the bibliography of a fetched MDPI survey of Portuguese religious history.
Igreja e sociedade portuguesa: Do liberalismo à República
His history of the Church in Portuguese society from liberalism to the Republic, published by Assírio & Alvim in 2012 (ISBN 978-972-37-1610-8, per Wikipedia's publications list; the Portuguese title and publisher/year are also given in a fetched Brill bibliography).
President of the Bishops' Conference of Portugal
President of the Portuguese bishops' conference from 19 June 2013, per the Holy See biography, after having served as its Vice-President; he had earlier presided over its Episcopal Commission for Culture, Cultural Assets and Social Communications.
Host Patriarch of World Youth Day Lisbon 2023
As Patriarch of Lisbon he hosted the August 2023 World Youth Day in the Portuguese capital and celebrated its opening Mass on 1 August 2023, days before his resignation was accepted on 10 August 2023.
Controversies
Response to the Portuguese clergy sexual-abuse crisis
An independent commission set up by Portugal's bishops to study sexual abuse in the Church reported in February 2023 that at least 4,815 children had been sexually abused by members of the Church in Portugal, mostly clergy, and Our Sunday Visitor reported that the Portuguese Church came under harsh criticism for not doing more to respond to the findings. Cardinal Clemente's own record was contested earlier: in an open letter of 29 July 2022 he reaffirmed the Lisbon Patriarchate's commitment to a 'zero tolerance' policy and denied media claims that his office had failed to act against a priest accused of abuse in 1999, saying he regretted the suffering caused to that victim and to all others. By 28 July 2022 the commission had received 356 reports of abuse, 17 of which had been passed to the public prosecutor's office.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- Catholic News Agency — World Youth Day 2023: Lisbon patriarch greets attendees at opening Mass, 1 August 2023
- Melbourne Catholic — 'Learn from Mary': Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon welcomes pilgrims for WYD opening Mass, 2 August 2023
- Our Sunday Visitor (CNS) — World Youth Day to include interreligious dimension, 21 July 2023
- The Central Minnesota Catholic (CNS) — Portugal abuse commission urges victims to come forward during home visits, 19 August 2022