Castelo Branco (Dom José de Sousa)

This worthy and zealous prelate of Funchal was born in the city of Leiria, the son of Heitor Vaz de Castelo Branco and Dona Luzia Maria da Silva e Ataíde, who belonged to old and noble families of that city.

After holding several important posts, he was appointed prelate of Funchal by Peter II in 1697. He received his episcopal consecration in Lisbon on 29 June 1698 at the hands of the bishop and inquisitor-general, Dom Friar José de Lencastre.

He did not delay long in setting out for his bishopric. First, however, at the monarch’s request, he went to Mazagan, where he arrived on 10 August 1698 to carry out the duties of the episcopal ministry there. In that stronghold, where many Portuguese scattered across various parts of the Moroccan mainland had then gathered, he was received with the greatest demonstrations of esteem and rejoicing. After staying a few days, he set course for his diocese, arriving in this city on 29 August of that year.

During the 19 years he resided in this bishopric, he always gave proof of irreproachable conduct and was extremely zealous in fulfilling his episcopal duties. He made several pastoral visitations of his entire diocese and adopted strict measures to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to correct certain serious abuses then being committed.

A strenuous defender of the privileges and prerogatives enjoyed by the Church, he had to wage struggles with the governor and captain-general João da Costa e Ataíde and with the superintendent of the royal treasury (provedor da fazenda) Manuel Mexia Galvão. The government in Lisbon sent the high court judge (desembargador) Diogo Salter de Macedo to Madeira to investigate the conflict that had arisen between these authorities. The result was a judgment in the prelate’s favour and a harsh censure of the acts of the governor and the superintendent of the royal treasury.

He devoted himself to genealogical studies and left several unpublished works, which are listed in the Biblioteca Lusitana.

On account of illness he sailed for the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal) on 16 July 1717 and never returned to the diocese; four years later he resigned the mitre. He died in 1746, having been the 14th bishop of this diocese.