Diocese of Vila Real
| Diocese of Vila Real Dioecesis Vilaregalensis Diocese de Vila Real | |
|---|---|
Cathedral of Vila Real
| |
| Location | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Ecclesiastical province | Braga |
| Metropolitan | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,273 km2 (1,650 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2023) 185,900 164,960 (88.7%) |
| Parishes | 264 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 20 April 1922 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St Dominic in Vila Real |
| Patron saint | Immaculate Conception |
| Secular priests | 118 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | António Augusto Azevedo |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | José Manuel Garcia Cordeiro |
| Bishops emeritus | Amândio José Tomás |
| Map | |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Diocese of Vila Real (Latin: Dioecesis Villaregalensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Portugal. It has existed since 1922. In that year it was formed from territories in the diocese of Bragança-Miranda, archdiocese of Braga, and diocese of Lamego. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Braga, in the Norte region, with its see at the Cathedral of Vila Real.[1]
Leadership
Bishops of Vila Real (all Roman Rite)
- João Evangelista de Lima Vidal (23 May 1923 – 31 May 1933), resigned
- António Valente da Fonseca (31 May 1933 – 10 Jan 1967), resigned
- António Cardoso Cunha (10 Jan 1967 – 19 Jan 1991), retired
- Joaquim Gonçalves (19 Jan 1991 – 17 May 2011), retired
- Amândio José Tomás (17 May 2011 – 11 May 2019), retired
- António Augusto Azevedo (11 May 2019 – Present)
Coadjutor Bishops of Vila Real
- António Cardoso Cunha (1966-1967), elevated to Bishop
- Joaquim Gonçalves (1987-1991), elevated to Bishop
- Amândio José Tomás (2008-2011), elevated to Bishop
Notable Ordinaries of Vila Real
- Auxiliary Bishops:
- António de Castro Xavier Monteiro (1964-1966), appointed Auxiliary Archbishop (personal title) of Lisbon, Portugal
- Priests:
- Gilberto Canavarro dos Reis (1963-1988), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Porto, Portugal
- Cardinal António Marto (1971-2000), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Braga, Portugal
- Manuel Linda (1981-2009), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Braga, Portugal
- Sérgio Dinis (1994-2024), appointed Military Ordinary of Portugal
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Diocese of Vila Real is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[2]
- Part of: Ecclesiastical Province of Braga