Bishop of Portalegre-Castelo Branco
Msgr. Pedro Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp., was born on 22 June 1969 in Lisboa, in the homonymous Patriarchate. After completing his secondary studies, he attended the Faculty of Theology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisboa. Subsequently, after joining the Spiritan student community in Restelo, Lisboa, he was awarded a licentiate in moral theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris and a diploma from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Formation of Formators to the Priesthood (C.I.F.S.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He gave his perpetual vows in 1995 and was ordained a priest on 21 June 1996. He has held the following offices: missionary of the first group of Spiritans sent to Mozambique, joining the missionary team of Netia (diocese of Nacala); founding member of the new mission of São José in Itoculo (2004); vicar forane of the pastoral zone of Monapo-Carapira, Mozambique, and pastoral coordinator of the diocese of Nacala (2000-2009); superior of the Spiritan community of Porto; professor of theology of the diocesan seminary mission of Porto (2010-2018); first assistant to the Provincial Council of the Portuguese Province of the Spiritans and vice president of the Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal (2018-2024); and to date, president of the Directorate of the Anima Una social support institution.