Abstract:
The ecclesiastical administration of Rio de Janeiro, created on July 19, 1575, inaugurated a new type of structure of the diocesan Church. The administration had its own territorial limits and the administrators or prelates exercised a nearly episcopal power and jurisdiction. It had almost all the powers of a bishop, except that of ordaining new priests. Between 1575 and 1681, it was governed by about seven prelates. This study analyzes the trajectory and prelatical government of the last prelate, Francisco da Silveira Dias, at a time of transition between the structures of ecclesiastical administration and diocese. In addition, it intends to deepen the knowledge on how ecclesiastical administration worked and how the prelates exercised in practice this almost episcopal jurisdiction.
Keywords:
Ecclesiastical administration; Rio de Janeiro; XVII century