He is related to the Minister of Justice and Peer of the Realm, Manuel Duarte Leitão, and the industrialist from Manteigas, Joaquim Pereira de Mattos.

On this occasion, Bishop Albino Cleto was tasked with blessing the establishment alongside the then President of the Republic, General Ramalho Eanes.

The funeral of Sister Lúcia in the New Cathedral of Coimbra was presided over by the Holy Father John Paul II, represented by his Special Envoy, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa (Italy).

A message from His Holiness Pope John Paul II for the funeral of Sister Lúcia was sent to Bishop Albino Cleto of Coimbra and read during the ceremony by Cardinal Bertone: "To the venerable Brother Albino Mamede Cleto, Bishop of Coimbra With deep emotion, I learned that Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart, at the age of 97, was called by the Heavenly Father to the eternal mansion of Heaven.

The liturgy of these days reminded us that death is the common heritage of the children of Adam but, at the same time, gave us the certainty that Jesus, with the sacrifice of the cross, opened the doors to immortal life.

We recall these certainties of faith as we give our last farewell to this humble and devout Carmelite, who dedicated her life to Christ, the Savior of the world.

The visit of the Virgin Mary that young Lúcia received in Fátima, along with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta in 1917, was for her the beginning of a singular mission to which she remained faithful until the end of her days.

I entrust you, Venerable Brother, with the task of ensuring the spiritual proximity of the nuns of the Carmel of Coimbra, by granting, as a token of consolation at this moment of separation, a heartfelt Blessing, extended to family members, to you, to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, my special envoy, and to all participants in the sacred rite of suffrage.

In October 2022, the beatification and canonization process of the religious experienced a significant development, with the delivery in the Vatican of the document on heroic virtues.

At the act of delivering the Positio Super Vita, Virtutibus et Fama Sanctitatis (on life, virtues, and fame of holiness), in Rome, were present Cardinal Marcello Semeraro; the general postulator of the cause of canonization, Father Marco Chiesa; the vice-postulator, Sister Ângela de Fátima Coelho; the relator, Monsignor Maurizio Tagliaferri; and Sister Filipa Pereira.

On June 22, 2023, Pope Francis approved the publication of the decree recognizing the "heroic virtues" of the religious, following an audience with the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, a necessary step for beatification.

Upon leaving the governance of the Diocese of Coimbra, Bishop Albino Cleto returned to the parish of São Pedro, in Manteigas, his hometown.

Many civil and religious personalities wished to mark their presence at the New Cathedral of Coimbra for a final tribute to Bishop Albino Cleto, a man who served the Church and society.

This last year touched me personally a lot since he welcomed me as the successor in this mission of Bishop of Coimbra with open arms, with enormous sympathy and many demonstrations of support, trying to encourage and inspire me.

Dr. João Paulo Barbosa de Melo, Mayor of Coimbra: "I think everyone who knew Bishop Albino Cleto feels great affection for him.