Francisco Maria da Silva

Francisco Maria da Silva (15 March 1910 – 14 April 1977) was a Portuguese prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Silva attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and was named Archbishop of Braga on December 12, 1963.

On August 10, 1975, the archbishop delivered a speech in which he gave a scathing condemnation of communism, as well as demanding that the Portuguese Communist Party relinquish its take over of the Catholic-owned Radio Renascença, saying, "We want respect for public morality and moral values ... for fundamental human rights.

Christian people must assume their responsibilities, certain that the best values guide their lives: God, his church, and the homeland".

After the speech, thousands of his audience desecrated a flag torn down from Communist Party headquarters, and were fired upon.