Matheus de Castro

Dom Matheus de Castro (c. 1594–1679) was a native of Divar, Goa, Portuguese India. He was the first Indian Bishop of the Catholic Church.[1] Consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis in Rome by the Vatican and appointed Vicar Apostolic to the Kingdoms of Bijapur, Golconda, Abyssinia and Pegu.[2]

Biography

Born into the influential Hindu Goud Saraswat Brahmin family of Divar named Mahale. It is said that Matheus de Castro was kidnapped and sent to the Franciscan seminary at Reis-Magos, Bardez to be taught the new religion. During the Christianisation of Goa in the early phase of the Goa Inquisition, the Portuguese authorities used many ploys to convert the natives to Christianity. One of which was to kidnap boys from upper caste Hindu families prior to their attaining puberty and enroll them in seminaries. Besides the families being influential, male children from the upper castes of Hindu society were by and large literate. Hence the task of indoctrination was much easier. These young converts would be influential in convincing their relatives and people of their community to embrace the new faith. But in keeping with the padroado policy at the time, of not admitting Indians into their ranks, Matheus de Castro's request for ordination to the priesthood was not entertained.

In 1625 Matheus de Castro ventured to Rome in the company of some Carmelite priests he had befriended and was introduced to Francesco Ingoli the dynamic secretary of the newly established Propaganda Fide, who on interviewing this Indian convert recommended his admission to the Collegio Urbano in Rome to study for the priesthood. After being ordained a priest in 1630, he pursued studies for a doctorate in theology, impressing his superiors with his abilities. He was appointed Protonotary Apostolic in 1633 and Bishop in 1635.[3]

Bishop de Castro was held in great esteem at the courts of the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan and other rulers of India, including those of Golconda ruled by the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the Kingdom of Bijapur which belonged to the Adil Shahi dynasty, which ruled Goa prior to the Portuguese.[4] They permitted him to erect dwelling houses and residences in their dominions for the accommodation and convenience of converts. He helped establish commercial relations between the Catholics of Goa and the peoples of those Kingdoms. He founded the Apostolic Mission of Bombay which evolved from a village in the 17th century to India's premier Metropolis. The Bishop spent the last years of his life in Rome.

Dom Thomas de Castro the Bishop of Fulsivelem was his nephew. Both uncle and nephew were at constant loggerheads with the Padroado. They were vehemently against the Goa Inquisition.

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References
  1. Biographical Dictionary of Church Missions by Gerald Anderson, Wm. B Eeadman Publishing, 1999
  2. Indian Prelates by Jno Godinho, Bombay, 1924
  3. Dictionary of Christian Missions edited by Gerald H Anderson
  4. Storia de Mogor by Niccolao Munucci
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