Military Ordinariate of Portugal
Encyclopedia
The Military Ordinariate of Portugal is a military ordinariate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
, it provides pastoral care
to Roman Catholics serving in the Portuguese Armed Forces
and their families.
Military ordinariate
A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces of a nation....
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, it provides pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
to Roman Catholics serving in the Portuguese Armed Forces
Portuguese Armed Forces
The armed forces of Portugal, commonly known as the Portuguese Armed Forces encompasses a Navy , an Army and an Air Force...
and their families.
History
It was established as a military vicariate 29 May 1966, and was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986.Military vicars
- Manuel Gonçalves CerejeiraManuel Gonçalves CerejeiraDom Manuel II Gonçalves Cerejeira, GCC was a Portuguese cardinal, who served as cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon, from 1929 to 1971...
(appointed 1966 – retired 1972) - António RibeiroAntónio RibeiroDom António II Ribeiro was a Portuguese Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who was Patriarch of Lisbon from 1971 until his death in 1998....
(appointed 24 January 1972 – became Military OrdinaryOrdinaryIn those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
21 July 1986)
Military ordinaries
- António RibeiroAntónio RibeiroDom António II Ribeiro was a Portuguese Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who was Patriarch of Lisbon from 1971 until his death in 1998....
(appointed 21 July 1986 – died 24 March 1998) - Januário Torgal Mendes Ferreira (current incumbent, appointed 3 May 2001)