Francisco Maria da Silva
Encyclopedia
Francisco Maria da Silva (March 15, 1910—April 14, 1977) was a Portuguese
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Archbishop of Braga
from 1963 until his death.
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
on May 21, 1932. On December 20, 1956, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Braga
and Titular Bishop
of Telmissus by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal consecration
on March 31, 1957 from Archbishop Antonio Martins Júnior, with Archbishop Manuel Ferreira da Silva and Bishop José Dias serving as co-consecrators
.
Silva attended the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965, and was named Archbishop of Braga
on December 12, 1963.
The Archbishop in 1975 delivered a speech in which he gave a scathing condemnation of Communism
, as well as demanding that the Communist Party
relinquish its hold over the Catholic-owned Radio Renascença
, saying, "We want respect for public morality
and moral values...for fundamental human rights
. Christian people must assume their responsibilities, certain that the best values guide their lives: God
, His church
, and the homeland
".
After the speech, thousands of his audience desecrated the flag at the Communist Party headquarters, and were opened fire upon.
Silva later died at the age of 67, having served as Archbishop for twenty-one years.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
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...
. He served as Archbishop of Braga
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Portugal.Its suffragans are the diocese of Aveiro, diocese of Bragança-Miranda, diocese of Coimbra, diocese of Lamego, diocese of Porto, diocese of Viana do Castelo, diocese of Vila Real,...
from 1963 until his death.
Biography
Francisco da Silva was born in MurtosaMurtosa
Murtosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 73.3 km² and a total population of 9,550 inhabitants, and 8,282 electors.The municipality is composed of 4 parishes, and is located in the District of Aveiro....
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 21, 1932. On December 20, 1956, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Telmissus by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on March 31, 1957 from Archbishop Antonio Martins Júnior, with Archbishop Manuel Ferreira da Silva and Bishop José Dias serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
Silva attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965, and was named Archbishop of Braga
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Portugal.Its suffragans are the diocese of Aveiro, diocese of Bragança-Miranda, diocese of Coimbra, diocese of Lamego, diocese of Porto, diocese of Viana do Castelo, diocese of Vila Real,...
on December 12, 1963.
The Archbishop in 1975 delivered a speech in which he gave a scathing condemnation of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, as well as demanding that the Communist Party
Portuguese Communist Party
The Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist....
relinquish its hold over the Catholic-owned Radio Renascença
Rádio Renascença
Rádio Renascença, also known as 'RR' or just 'Renascença', is a private, commercial, Portuguese radio station owned by various organizations within the Portuguese Catholic Church, such as Patriarcado de Lisboa. It was founded in 1934 and started broadcasting in 1936...
, saying, "We want respect for public morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
and moral values...for fundamental human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. Christian people must assume their responsibilities, certain that the best values guide their lives: God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, His 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...
, and the homeland
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
".
After the speech, thousands of his audience desecrated the flag at the Communist Party headquarters, and were opened fire upon.
Silva later died at the age of 67, having served as Archbishop for twenty-one years.