Birth. January 20, 1841 (1), Lagos, diocese of Faro, Algarve, Portugal. His parents were Raimundo José Neto, who participated in the Peninsular Wars, and Catarina Lúcia de Almeida.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Faro. Received the subdiaconate on September 20, 1862; and the diaconate on May 21, 1864

Priesthood. Ordained, April 1, 1865. Coadjutor of the parish church of São Sebastian, Boliqueime, diocese of Faro, 1873-1875. Entered the Order of the Friars Minor Discalced, August 15, 1875; took the name Joseph of the Sacred Hearts; in 1897, his order merged into Order of Friars Minor. He was presented by the king of Portugal for the see of Angola and Congo on July 30, 1879.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Angola and Congo, September 22, 1879. Consecrated, April 18, 1880, church of São Julião, Lisbon, by Gaetano Aloisi Masella, titular archbishop of Neocesarea, nuncio to Portugal, assisted by Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, archbishop of Goa, and by José Lino de Oliveira, former bishop of Angola. He was presented by the king of Portugal for the see of Lisbon on July 12, 1883. Promoted to the patriarchal see of Lisbon, August 9, 1883.

Birth. April 14 (or 18), 1834, Aversa. Second son of of the three children of Giuseppe, grand duke of Acquavella (1812-1866), and his first wife, Giovanna Di Martino, of the barons of Montegiordano (+1836); they were married in Naples on September 6, 1830 in the parish church of S. Maria della Neve in Chiaia. The father was secretary general of the intendency of Basilicata in 1859. He was baptized at home the day after his birth. Received the sacrament of confirmation on June 1, 1846.

Education. First instruction at home. Then, he began his studies at the Royal College of Maddaloni and continued them from the age of ten in the Benedictine studentato of Cava de' Tirreni. In the meantime, since the family had moved to Naples and lived near the cathedral, in the parish of S. Giorgio Maggiore of the pious workers, he was welcomed into the Neapolitan clergy as an external cleric on September 23, 1851 by the pro-vicar general Vincenzo Balzano. While studying philosophy, he received tonsure and minor orders on September 18, 1852. He entered the Benedictines of the abbey of the Ss. Trinità of Cava de 'Tirreni on November 21, 1853; attended the novitiate of S. Germano di Cassino and made his first profession on July 15, 1855. Entered the Order of St. Benedict in the Abbey nullius of SS. Trinità de Cava dei Tirreni, November 21, 1853; while still a student, he was asked to teach Latin, Greek and Italian Literature; religious profession, July 15, 1855; received the subdiaconate, August 15, 1855; and the diaconate, August 17, 1856; he also studied at the University of Naples, where he obtained a doctorate in theology on September 4, 1875; and at College of Protonotaries, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in utroque iuris, both civil and canon law, on April 27, 1876.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 15, 1857, by Cardinal Sisto Riario Sforza, archbishop of Naples. He emitted the solemn profession in Cava on July 9, 1857, in the hands of Abbot Onofrio Granata. Lector of theology in the abbey of Montecassino, 1858; master of novices, 1861-1867. In the abbey of SS. Trinità de Cava dei Tirreni, lector and dean; vicar general, July 15, 1874; he founded the liceo ginnasio, annexed to the abbey.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Naples, July 18, 1878. Consecrated, July 21, 1878, church of S. Maria in Campitelli, Rome, by Cardinal Alessandro Franchi, secretary of State, assisted by Tommaso Reggio, bishop of Ventimiglia, and by Ignazio Persico, O.F.M.Cap., titular bishop of Bolina and coadjutor of Aquino, Sora e Pontecorvo. His humanitarian assistance following the earthquake which hit Casamicciola in 1883; and the cholera epidemic which struck Naples in 1884, were highly acclaimed by citizens and authorities of both places.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 24, 1884; received red hat and title of S. Clemente, March 27, 1884.

Death. January 3, 1897, of pulmonary complications after being stricken by bronchitis, in Naples. Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Naples; and buried in the chapel of the Congregation of S. Maria in Vertecoeli, Pianto Cemetery, Naples. At a later date, his remains were transferred to the metropolitan cathedral of Naples and reburied in the Brancaccio chapel (1).