João Norton de Matos

João Norton de Matos serves as an Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Portugal, while concurrently holding researcher positions at the Centre of Religious History Studies (CEHR) and the Research Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (CITER). As a Jesuit priest, he integrates theological scholarship with pastoral practice as parish priest in solidum at Nossa Senhora da Encarnação in Lisbon and member of the Brotéria Cultural Centre.

His educational trajectory reflects interdisciplinary depth: PhD in Fundamental Theology (Centre Sèvres, Paris), Theology degree (Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Madrid), DEA in Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art (Université Catholique de Louvain), Philosophy degree (Braga Faculty of Philosophy, UCP), and Architecture degree (Technical University of Lisbon). This unique fusion of theological training and architectural expertise directly informs his research on sacred art and religious symbolism.

His scholarly output centers on the crisis in modern sacred art and mediatory functions of the sacred in contemporary artistic expression, with publications spanning theological analysis and architectural interviews. The 2019 article A crise moderna da arte sacra establishes foundational work on sacred mediations in art, while the 2010 interview with architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça bridges theological concepts with architectural practice. These works collectively demonstrate his focus on the intersection of religious experience, artistic representation, and cultural crisis.

As an active researcher in the UCP-CEHR pluriannual project (2020-2025), he contributes to religious history studies alongside colleagues from theology, history, and social sciences. His academic mentorship includes supervising graduate work such as the 2020 master's research ESPERANÇA, o dom de ver para além do visível, reflecting his commitment to theological education. Institutional affiliations with CEHR and CITER position him within dynamic research networks exploring Portuguese religious identity and contemporary theological challenges.