Principal (, ; ''Principais''), or more formally, Principal of the Holy Patriarchal Church of Lisbon (), was the honorific title granted to the
canons of the chapter of the
Patriarchal See of Lisbon by the
papal bull
A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it.
History
Papal ...
''
Salvatoris nostri Mater'', issued by
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV (; ; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758. Pope Benedict X (1058–1059) is now con ...
in 1740.
The Patriarchal Chapter, comprising twenty-four Principals presided over by the Principal Dean (''Principal Deão''), was modelled after the
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals (), also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. there are cardinals, of whom are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Appointed by the pope, ...
(and was indeed formally styled "College of Principals"
), and was similarly divided into
three orders: Principal Primaries (''Principais Primários''), Principal Priests (''Principais Presbíteros''), and Principal Deacons (''Principais Diáconos''). Also evoking the grandeur of the papal court, the Principals dressed in scarlet cassocks in the manner of cardinals.
The title and extraordinary rights of vesture ceased to be used in 1834, following the
Liberal Wars and the establishment of a
liberal constitutional monarchy in the country.
References
{{Reflist
Canons (priests)
Catholic ecclesiastical titles
Court titles