The President of the Republic considered today that the nomination of Américo Aguiar as cardinal may mean that there is an intention that he will be the future cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was speaking to journalists at the end of an event at the former royal riding arena near the Belém Palace in Lisbon, expressed his “great happiness” that Américo Aguiar, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, had been named cardinal of the Catholic Church.
“Normally, an auxiliary bishop does not become a cardinal, except under the assumption that he ceases to be an auxiliary bishop, which means that it could mean that Dom Américo will become the future cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon,” the head of state declared.
The President of the Republic pointed out that “Portugal now has six cardinals, never before in its history”. On the other hand, he referred that Américo Aguiar, 49 years old, is “a very young cardinal”.
The cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon is since 2013 Manuel Clemente, who is 74 years old.
At Easter this year, Manuel Clemente announced that it was the last one he would celebrate as Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon.
