António José de Sousa Barroso

From 1880, the young priest embarked for Africa. Sent to Angola and the former Kingdom of Congo, he founded the mission of São Salvador do Congo there. His apostolic zeal and his closeness to the local populations earned him immense esteem. In addition to his evangelization work, he took a close interest in geography, linguistics, and ethnography, acting as a true "scientific missionary." On February 12, 1891, Pope Leo XIII appointed him titular bishop of Himera and prelate of Mozambique. He received episcopal consecration on July 5, 1891, in Lisbon. In Mozambique, he revived missionary activity, founded the mission of São José de Changuene (1892), and the Rainha Dona Amélia teaching institute in Lourenço Marques (1893). In 1894, he published a major report titled Padroado de Portugal em África, which testifies to his modern vision of missiology. On October 11, 1897, he was transferred to the episcopal see of São Tomé de Mylapore (Meliapor) in India, where he diplomatically resolved local tensions linked to the Portuguese Padroado. On May 23, 1899, he was appointed bishop of Porto, one of the most important dioceses in Portugal, of which he took possession on August 2, 1899. In Porto, he reorganized the diocese into 37 districts, addressed the lack of religious instruction, and distinguished himself by his tireless charity toward the poor, which earned him the nickname "bispo esmoler" (the almsgiving bishop). His episcopate in Porto was marked by serious political tensions after the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in October 1910. Msgr. Barroso firmly opposed the 1911 Law of Separation of Church and State, introduced by Minister of Justice Afonso Costa. Having co-authored and supported the distribution of a collective pastoral letter of protest, he was arrested, tried in Lisbon on March 7, 1911, and sentenced to exile from his diocese. He took refuge first in Cernache do Bonjardim, then in his native parish of Remelhe. During his trial, he uttered a phrase that has remained famous: "There are two things I know I will not die of: childbirth and fear" ("Há duas coisas das quais sei que não irei morrer: parto e medo"). He was authorized to return to his diocese in April 1914. However, in August 1917, he suffered a second two-year exile for having authorized three nuns to live in community and practice worship in Vila Boa de Quires, violating the government's anti-religious laws. He went into exile in Coimbra. He was only able to return to Porto in December 1917, thanks to the coup d'état of Sidónio Pais. Weakened by fevers and infections contracted during his years of mission in Africa, Msgr. Barroso passed away on August 31, 1918, at the Sacais palace in Porto, at the age of 63.

The reputation of holiness of Bishop Barroso, already vivid during his lifetime due to his heroic charity and his courage in the face of republican persecutions, endured after his death. The people quickly considered him the "Bispo Santo" (the Holy Bishop). In 1927, his remains were transferred from the parish cemetery of Remelhe to a monument-chapel erected in his honor. On July 31, 1992, Bishop Júlio Tavares Rebimbas, then Bishop of Porto, signed the decree officially opening the cause for the beatification and canonization of António José de Sousa Barroso. The diocesan inquiry collected numerous testimonies regarding his virtues and his reputation for holiness.

The file for the cause was then transmitted to Rome, to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. After the examination of the Positio by the theological consultants and the cardinals, Pope Francis authorized, on June 16, 2017, the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues. From that date, António José de Sousa Barroso was officially declared "Venerable". For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession is required. The cause is currently active under the direction of his postulator.

The spirituality of the Venerable António Barroso rests on an intrepid faith, absolute obedience to the Church, and a preferential love for the poor. His spiritual testament, written on February 19, 1917, summarizes his life: "I was born poor, I did not live rich, and I want to die poor" ("Nasci pobre, rico não vivi e pobre quero morrer"). He bequeathed his personal coin collection to the municipality of Barcelos so that it could be exhibited to the public. He is also considered one of the greatest Portuguese missiologists, having understood very early on that evangelization had to be accompanied by respect for local cultures and the development of education. In November 2019, his mortal remains were transferred inside the parish church of Santa Marinha de Remelhe to allow for better devotion by the faithful.