Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon , Portugal, was born on 26 February 1936 in Alvorninha, Portugal. He was ordained on 15 August 1961 for the Patriarchate of Lisbon and holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He was director of the seminary in Penafirme, rector of the seminary in Olivais and dean of the Theological Faculty of the Portuguese Catholic University. He later served two terms as rector of the same university (1988-96). He is the author of a number of books and scholarly articles.

On 26 May 1978 he was appointed titular Bishop of Caliabria and Auxiliary of Lisbon , receiving episcopal ordination on 29 June. On 5 March 1997 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Lisbon and succeeded Cardinal António Ribeiro as Patriarch on 24 March 1998. He is also Grand Chancellor of the Portuguese Catholic University and President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001. Titular church St. Anthony in Campo Marzio.

Curial membership:

Catholic Education (congregation) Laity, Culture (councils)

Made some noted ecumenical statements at an interfaith event with young people. Sister Lucy of Fatima said "there is only one God who deserves our adoration, the other divinities are nothing, are worth nothing and can do nothing for us." The Cardinal stated of this view, "But, my boy, such a vision is outmoded. What are those divinities Sister Lucy is talking about? We Christians, Muslims, Jews, we all have the same God." Later adding "Each religion has something to teach you. Experience of other religions is very important, we've got a lot to learn from them." On a question about contradictions between Islam and Christianity he was apparently uncomfortable so largely ducked the issue. (Cardinal Rating.com for the story about ecumenicalism, vatican for biographical notes)

He was thought to be papabile. On April 11th 2005, British newspaper The Guardian considered him to be "a dark-horse candidate for pope, capable of bridging the divide between the Europeans and the Latin American Roman Catholic cardinals". He would have been the first cigarette smoking Pope.

See also

• List of Cardinals from Portugal