He was made a cardinal "in pectore" on 27 November 1911. He had been expelled from Lisbon earlier that year for an infraction of the law of the separation of Church and State. during which time he resided in Gouveia. The government relaxed its anticlerical campaign and allowed him to return to Lisbon in 1913. His elevation to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro was published on 25 May 1914. He received the red hat from Pope Benedict XV on 8 September 1914.