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Honorary title

Doctor Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra

Ceremony conferring the honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) on Lula, in Coimbra, Portugal, on March 30, 2011, with the participation of President Dilma Rousseff.
Ceremony conferring the honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) on Lula, in Coimbra, Portugal, on March 30, 2011, with the participation of President Dilma Rousseff.Photo: Roberto Stuckert Filho /PR., CC BY-SA

Documentary record

According to Jornal do Brasil, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived at the University of Coimbra, in Portugal, to receive an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa).[1]

According to a Lusa agency report reproduced by the press, members of the Social Democratic Youth (JSD) asked the University of Coimbra to annul the honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) granted to Lula in 2011.[2]

According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, Gomes Canotilho, a professor at the Faculty of Law, proposed the Honoris Causa doctorate and praised the honoree, and Jorge Manuel Coutinho de Abreu, a professor at the Faculty of Law, praised the sponsor, Fernando Seabra Santos. The UCV announcement of 03/25/2011 said that the Faculty of Law would confer the doctorate and that the presentation would be handled by Fernando Seabra Santos.[3]

In a note dated March 30, 2011, the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic reported that the President attended the ceremony of the honoris causa doctorate of Lula from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, with Dilma Rousseff and the President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, in attendance.[4]

The University of Coimbra web television (UCV) reported, on 03/31/2011, that the former president of Brazil was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra; on 04/01/2011, the Tome Nota of the UC portal published that Lula da Silva is a Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Coimbra.[5]

According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, the Honoris Causa doctorate granted to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on March 30 by the University of Coimbra brought him to the Sala dos Capelos; the UCV recorded that the ceremony brought Dilma Rousseff, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and Pedro Pires to the Sala dos Capelos.[6]

The index of the Bulletin of the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, vol. LXXXVII, lists in the section "Vida da Escola" (School Life) the Conferral of Insignia: Ceremony of the Honoris Causa Doctorate of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on March 30, 2011.[7]

According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, Gomes Canotilho, in his praise of the honoree, concluded that, since the former president of Brazil placed the instances of power decidedly toward the defense of the dignity of persons and peoples, it is legitimate to say that Lula da Silva placed practical reason at the service of justice.[8]

What remains to be documented

  • Documentary record: Rationale stated by the university: not yet located.
  • Documentary record: Sponsor and presenters of the 2011 doctorate without a source accessible to automatic verification (uc.pt with anti-robot challenge).
  • Documentary record: Venue of the ceremony (Sala dos Capelos) without a source accessible to automatic verification.
  • Documentary record: Formal rationale of the University of Coimbra (resolution or written proposal) not located; full texts of the laudatio of the honoree and of the presenter, published in the Bulletin of the Faculty of Law, vol. LXXXVII (2011), pp. 1035 and 1049, not read.

Sources and evidence

Excerpts are quoted in the original language of the source.

  1. 1. According to Jornal do Brasil, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived at the University of Coimbra, in Portugal, to receive an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa).

    • Alencar ficaria feliz por mim, diz Lula em Portugal · Jornal do Brasil Press
      Where: paragraph 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “COIMBRA - Ao chegar esta manhã à Universidade de Coimbra, em Portugal, para receber um título de doutor honoris causa, o ex-presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva disse que o seu ex-vice, José Alencar, ficaria "muito feliz" por ele se estivesse vivo.”

  2. 2. According to a Lusa agency report reproduced by the press, members of the Social Democratic Youth (JSD) asked the University of Coimbra to annul the honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) granted to Lula in 2011.

    • Doutor "Horroris Causa" · O Antagonista (citing the Lusa agency) Press
      Where: paragraph 1 and quotation from the open letter. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “A agência Lusa registra que integrantes da Juventude Social-Democrata (JSD) pediram à Universidade de Coimbra (UC) a anulação do título de doutor ‘Honoris Causa’ concedido a Lula em 2011.”

  3. 3. According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, Gomes Canotilho, a professor at the Faculty of Law, proposed the Honoris Causa doctorate and praised the honoree, and Jorge Manuel Coutinho de Abreu, a professor at the Faculty of Law, praised the sponsor, Fernando Seabra Santos. The UCV announcement of 03/25/2011 said that the Faculty of Law would confer the doctorate and that the presentation would be handled by Fernando Seabra Santos.

    • Luis Inácio Lula da Silva — Doutoramentos Honoris Causa · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Where: body, line 2. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Proposta de atribuição do grau: Faculdade de Direito”
    • Luis Inácio Lula da Silva — Doutoramentos Honoris Causa · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Where: body, line 3. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Padrinho: Fernando Seabra Santos | Apresentante do Doutorando: Joaquim Gomes Canotilho | Apresentante do Padrinho: Jorge Coutinho de Abreu”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: text "A universalidade de Lula enaltecida pela Universidade de Coimbra," paragraph 2. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “como referiu Canotilho, professor da Faculdade de Direito, que propôs o doutoramento”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: text "A universalidade de Lula enaltecida pela Universidade de Coimbra," last paragraph. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Os discursos que soaram nesta cerimónia, quer de Gomes Canotilho, que elogiou o Doutorando, quer de Jorge Manuel Coutinho de Abreu (professor da Faculdade de Direito), que elogiou o padrinho, Fernando Seabra Santos,”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: newsletter header. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Newsletter da UC - Março 2011”
    • Doutoramento Honoris Causa de Lula da Silva · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured July 4, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt. Announcement prior to the ceremony (forecast); video not watched; reader comments not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: video description, paragraph 1 (beginning). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “A Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra atribui, no próximo dia 30 de Março, Quarta-feira, às 10H30, na Sala Grande dos Actos da Universidade de Coimbra, o Doutoramento Honoris Causa a Luís Inácio Lula da Silva.”
    • Doutoramento Honoris Causa de Lula da Silva · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured July 4, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt. Announcement prior to the ceremony (forecast); video not watched; reader comments not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: video description, paragraph 1 (end). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “A apresentação estará a cargo do Doutor Fernando Seabra Santos, enquanto os elogios do candidato e do apresentante, respetivamente, serão da responsabilidade do Doutor Joaquim Gomes Canotilho e do Doutor Jorge Coutinho de Abreu.”
    • Doutoramento Honoris Causa de Lula da Silva · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured July 4, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt. Announcement prior to the ceremony (forecast); video not watched; reader comments not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: date and byline below the title. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “25/03/2011 por UCV”

  4. 4. In a note dated March 30, 2011, the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic reported that the President attended the ceremony of the honoris causa doctorate of Lula from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, with Dilma Rousseff and the President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, in attendance.

    • Presidente da República no Doutoramento Honoris Causa de Lula da Silva · Presidency of the Portuguese Republic (Aníbal Cavaco Silva archive, 2006 to 2016) Government communication
      Where: body of the news item. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “O Presidente da República assistiu à Cerimónia de Doutoramento Honoris Causa , pela Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra, do ex-Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Esta Cerimónia contou com as presenças da Presidente do Brasil, Dilma Rousseff, e do Presidente de Cabo Verde, Pedro Pires.”
    • Presidente da República no Doutoramento Honoris Causa de Lula da Silva · Presidency of the Portuguese Republic (Aníbal Cavaco Silva archive, 2006 to 2016) Government communication
      Where: date of the news item, at the end of the text. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “e do Presidente de Cabo Verde, Pedro Pires. 30.03.2011”

  5. 5. The University of Coimbra web television (UCV) reported, on 03/31/2011, that the former president of Brazil was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra; on 04/01/2011, the Tome Nota of the UC portal published that Lula da Silva is a Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Coimbra.

    • Lula é doutor Honoris Causa na UC · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured May 20, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt; the video of the ceremony was not watched (only the text description on the page). The page contains reader comments, not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: video description (paragraph 1). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “O antigo presidente do Brasil foi distinguido com o grau de Doutor Honoris Causa da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra.”
    • Lula é doutor Honoris Causa na UC · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured May 20, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt; the video of the ceremony was not watched (only the text description on the page). The page contains reader comments, not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: date and byline below the title. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “31/03/2011 por UCV”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Tome Nota - Lula da Silva, antigo Presidente do Brasil, é doutor Honoris Causa pela Universidade de Coimbra · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured May 27, 2011); original address: uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt. The note has only a title, publication date, and a link to the UCV; it has no body text. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: note title and "Publication date" field. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Lula da Silva, antigo Presidente do Brasil, é doutor Honoris Causa pela Universidade de Coimbra Publication date: 01-04-2011 12:05”

  6. 6. According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, the Honoris Causa doctorate granted to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on March 30 by the University of Coimbra brought him to the Sala dos Capelos; the UCV recorded that the ceremony brought Dilma Rousseff, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and Pedro Pires to the Sala dos Capelos.

    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: text "A universalidade de Lula enaltecida pela Universidade de Coimbra," paragraph 2. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “concedido a Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ex-presidente do Brasil, no passado dia 30 de Março, pela Universidade de Coimbra, trouxe à Sala dos Capelos, o homem do”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: newsletter header. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Newsletter da UC - Março 2011”
    • Lula é doutor Honoris Causa na UC · University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television) Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured May 20, 2011); original address: ucv.ci.uc.pt. Copy from Arquivo.pt; the video of the ceremony was not watched (only the text description on the page). The page contains reader comments, not used. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra (UCV, the UC web television).
      Where: video description (sentence 2). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “A cerimónia trouxe à Sala dos Capelos a presidente do Brasil, Dilma Rousseff, o Presidente da República Portuguesa, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, e o Presidente da República de Cabo Verde, Pedro Pires.”

  7. 7. The index of the Bulletin of the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, vol. LXXXVII, lists in the section "Vida da Escola" (School Life) the Conferral of Insignia: Ceremony of the Honoris Causa Doctorate of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on March 30, 2011.

    • Boletim da Faculdade de Direito, vol. LXXXVII (2011), índice (bfduc_2011_lxxxvii.pdf) · Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured February 17, 2016); original address: fd.uc.pt. The archived PDF (79,977 bytes) contains only the title page and the index of the volume, not the texts of the speeches. The original address now redirects to bfd.fd.uc.pt, which responds HTTP 404 for the file. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra.
      Where: index, section III "Vida da Escola," item 1. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “III — Vida da Escola 1. Imposição de Insígnias: Cerimónia de Doutoramento Honoris Causa do Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, em 30 de Março de 2011”
    • Boletim da Faculdade de Direito, vol. LXXXVII (2011), índice (bfduc_2011_lxxxvii.pdf) · Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured February 17, 2016); original address: fd.uc.pt. The archived PDF (79,977 bytes) contains only the title page and the index of the volume, not the texts of the speeches. The original address now redirects to bfd.fd.uc.pt, which responds HTTP 404 for the file. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra.
      Where: index, section III, items 1.1 to 1.3. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “1.1. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — Discurso de Petição de Grau...................... 1031 1.2. José Joaquim Gomes Canotilho — Elogio do Doutorando.................... 1035 1.3. Jorge Manuel Coutinho de Abreu — Elogio do Apresentante ............... 1049”
    • Boletim da Faculdade de Direito, vol. LXXXVII (2011), índice (bfduc_2011_lxxxvii.pdf) · Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Arquivo.pt (FCT), captured February 17, 2016); original address: fd.uc.pt. The archived PDF (79,977 bytes) contains only the title page and the index of the volume, not the texts of the speeches. The original address now redirects to bfd.fd.uc.pt, which responds HTTP 404 for the file. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra.
      Where: title page. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Boletim da Faculdade de Direito VOL. LXXXVII C O I M B RA 2011”

  8. 8. According to the University of Coimbra Newsletter of March 2011, Gomes Canotilho, in his praise of the honoree, concluded that, since the former president of Brazil placed the instances of power decidedly toward the defense of the dignity of persons and peoples, it is legitimate to say that Lula da Silva placed practical reason at the service of justice.

    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: text "A universalidade de Lula enaltecida pela Universidade de Coimbra," paragraph 3. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Gozando o ex-presidente do Brasil de um reconhecimento mundial, colocando “as instâncias do poder decididamente voltadas para a defesa da dignidade das pessoas e dos povos, é legítimo”, conclui Canotilho, “que Lula da Silva colocou a razão prática ao serviço da justiça””
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: text "A universalidade de Lula enaltecida pela Universidade de Coimbra," paragraph 2. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “(como disse Gomes Canotilho, no discurso de elogio do doutorando)”
    • Universidade de Coimbra - Newsletter - Destaque (Newsletter da UC - Março 2011) · University of Coimbra Granting institution
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured April 4, 2011); original address: www.uc.pt. The archive preserves the copy; the author is University of Coimbra.
      Where: newsletter header. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Newsletter da UC - Março 2011”