When a migrant arrives in Portugal, “I see a brother, and I am not saying this to be poetic; I do not have a poet's vein.” Rui Valério, Patriarch of Lisbon, was this evening's guest on RTP's Grande Entrevista. When questioned about the delay in compensation for victims of abuse, the bishop argued that the church was courageous in that process.
Patriarch Rui Valério: "I see the immigrant as a brother, Christ himself coming to meet me"
Thursday, 2 April 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Immigration Law is Portugal’s legal framework that governs entry, residency, asylum and deportation of non-nationals. It was amended by Law No. 61/2025 on October 22, 2025, after parts of an earlier draft were rejected by the Constitutional Court; the changes reorganise administrative responsibilities and introduce stricter control measures that affect visas, residency and family reunification processes.
