MENESES, Aleixo. — Augustinian missionary and bishop, b. in Lisbon on 25 Jan. 1559, d. in Madrid on 2 May 1617. He entered the religious life in 1574, and after completing his studies became superior in various convents of his Order. Philip II offered him the rectorship of the University of Coimbra, but M. declined II. On 13 Feb. 1595 he was appointed Archbishop of Goa and Primate of the East Indies.
He set out at once for his mission and was entrusted by Clement VIII with the office of visitor to the kingdom of Cangarner and extraordinary faculties to judge the Nestorian bishop Mar Abraham. With indefatigable zeal he worked for the Christians of St Thomas in the Malabar region, for the conversion of unbelievers and schismatics. In 1599 he convened and, as papal legate, presided over the Synod of Diamper. He gave great impetus to the missions in Ethiopia and Persia, sending out Jesuits and Augustinians respectively. In Goa he founded monasteries, colleges and churches. For three periods he governed India as viceroy, and strove especially to defend it against the Dutch. In 1610 he was recalled to Europe by Philip III. On 19 March of the same year Paul V named him Archbishop of Braga and Primate of Spain. In 1614 he was appointed viceroy of Portugal. M. exercised his apostolate also through many writings; but most of his works, especially those concerning the history of the Augustinians and his pastoral government, remained in manuscript and were lost.