Padroado

The Padroado (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɐðɾuˈaðu], "patronage") was an arrangement between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Portugal and later the Portuguese Republic, through a series of concordats by which the Holy See delegated the administration of the local churches and granted some theocratic privileges to Portuguese monarchs.

The Portuguese Padroado dates from the beginning of the Portuguese maritime expansion in the mid-15th century and was confirmed by Pope Leo X in 1514. At various times the system was called Padroado Real (Royal patronage), Padroado Ultramarino Português (Portuguese Overseas Patronage) and, since 1911 (following the Portuguese Law on the Separation of Church and State), Padroado Português do Oriente (Portuguese Patronage of the East). The system was progressively dismantled throughout the 20th century.

When the Empire of Brazil became independent from Portugal in 1822, in addition to the Catholic faith being confirmed as the official religion of the new state, the Padroado regime was retained, with all its institutions and privileges (now vested, regarding Brazil, in the emperor and in his government), and this was recognized by the Holy See in 1826. Shortly after Brazil became a republic in 1889, the Padroado was abolished in the country, by the same decree that enacted the separation of Church and state on 7 January 1890.