Cardinal Américo Manuel Aguiar Alves, the Bishop of Setúbal, Portugal, is a progressive prelate and one of the Church’s youngest cardinals whose reputed communication skills jettisoned him into leading the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon.

Born on December 12, 1973, in Leça do Balio, Portugal, Aguiar Alves studied theology at the Catholic University of Portugal and later earned a master’s degree in communication sciences from Lisbon.

Prior to his ecclesiastical career, Aguiar briefly engaged in politics, serving as a town councilor under the Socialist Party. Bishop Aguiar has reportedly never hidden his political background and brief career, and in fact says he is proud of it.

He was ordained priest in 2001 and steadily rose through the ranks, taking on roles such as vicar general, parish priest, and communication director for the Diocese of Porto. He became the auxiliary bishop of Lisbon in 2019, gaining recognition for his leadership and organizational skills.

Aguiar Alves’ rise has been marked by rapid advancements within the Church. As president of the World Youth Day 2023 Foundation, he oversaw the largest post-pandemic event for young Catholics, which drew over 1.5 million attendees. His skills in communication and crisis management earned him praise, particularly for resolving issues such as the high costs of the WYD stage and controversial media reports during the event, some of which, however, were of his own making.

During the preparations for WYD 2023, he made headlines by saying in an interview: “We don’t want to convert young people to Christ or to the Catholic Church.” The remark drew widespread criticism as it seemed to downplay the Church’s evangelizing mission. He later clarified his statement, explaining that WYD was not meant to be an aggressive proselytizing event but rather an opportunity for participants to experience Christ through fellowship and reflection.

Aguiar Alves was indirectly criticised for other aspects of WYD’s organisation, such as the storage of consecrated hosts in plastic containers, and logistics issues involving accommodation and transportation for pilgrims.

The controversies did not hinder his chances of promotion under the leadership of Pope Francis, however, who appointed Aguiar Bishop of Setúbal, a city 30 miles from Lisbon, and made him a cardinal in late 2023. He became one of the youngest cardinals and an unusual choice as normally the Patriarch of Lisbon is elevated to the College but as of December 2024, he remains without a red hat. Aguiar Alves close relationship with the Pope has led to speculation about future responsibilities in the global Church.

In December 2024, Cardinal Aguiar revealed he had shed none of his socialist sympathies by attending the closing session of a congress held by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), a significant political force and one of the country’s oldest political parties. He justified his presence by saying the party is “close to the people,” adding that he could “just as easily tomorrow” be at a congress of Portugal’s right wing parties. “What is important is that all parties use a language that addresses the real problems of every Portuguese person,” he said. 

Cardinal Aguiar Alves’ rapid rise, organization of a major Church event, and his focus on youth and communications represent significant achievements. However, his comments on conversion, his unapologetically close ties to socialists and communists, and some aspects of WYD organization have also generated controversy among the faithful.