He graduated in canons at the University of Coimbra, and afterwards entered the service of the Holy Office, he was a deputy in Évora, being already Archdeacon of Santa Cristina, in the Archbishopric of Braga, also holding the position of sumilher to Pedro II of Portugal.

On his return, at the time when Diogo de Sousa, his uncle, was Archbishop of Évora; he held the position of President of the Ecclesiastical Relation of that city.

Nevertheless, he accepted the place of Bishop of Porto and had his elevation confirmed by Pope Innocent XI in 1684, being consecrated on April 16 by Cardinal D. Veríssimo de Lencastre, assisted by Bishop Manuel Pereira, Bishop-emeritus of St. Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro and by D. Antonio de Santa Maria, Titular Bishop of Diocaesarea in Isauria.

By his work and extreme humility, he received praises in the Apostolic Brief of Pope Innocent XII.

[1] Kings Pedro II and João V made efforts to elevate the archbishop to cardinal, but when he was to be appointed by Pope Clement XI, he died on 29 September 1710.