The largest international Catholic meeting, the World Youth Days (WYD) officially open in Lisbon on Tuesday, the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis, despite his 86 years and his fragile health, and should bring together more than one million believers at the end of the week.
Argentinian sovereign pontiff, Jorge Bergoglio is not expected in the Portuguese capital until Wednesday, and it is therefore the cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon who will preside at the beginning of the evening at the opening mass of these WYDs, at the top of a hill overlooking the city center and the Tagus estuary.
Local authorities expect an influx of some 300,000 believers for this first highlight, and about a million pilgrims for the final mass to be celebrated by the Pope on Sunday, on the site of a former landfill located in the near suburbs.
The program of his 42nd trip abroad since his election in 2013 seems particularly busy, with ten speeches and twenty appointments, only two months after an abdominal operation followed by ten days of hospitalization.
“Portugal is starting today to host the biggest international event the country has ever organised, which will bring us young people from all over the world,” Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Monday.
This five-day papal visit will mobilize 16,000 members of the police and emergency services, causing the closure of several roads and metro stations, as well as the restoration of border controls with Spain.
“It is a unique event in its scale”, commented for his part the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon and highest prelate of the Portuguese Church, Manuel Clemente, recalling that the number of pilgrims expected represents a tenth of the population. Portuguese country of 10 million inhabitants.
In the streets of Lisbon, volunteers recognizable by their yellow outfits are posted in front of the main churches of the city to welcome the first groups of pilgrims. “I participated in WYD in Krakow and Panama, so I wanted to participate this time as a volunteer,” Anabela Medeiros, 56, told AFP.
“It’s a special moment that you have to have experienced at least once in your life,” said Samuel Navarro, a 19-year-old Spanish student. “I can’t wait to see people around the world celebrate the faith and see how alive the Church is,” said Paige Lipetska, a 26-year-old American.
As soon as he arrives on Wednesday, the pope will speak to the country’s authorities and clergy. On Thursday and Friday, he will meet young people from different groups as well as volunteers.
On Saturday, he will go to the famous Marian shrine of Fatima (center) and will participate in a great vigil in a park in the inner suburbs of Lisbon, before celebrating the final mass there the next day.
The Vatican has not officially confirmed it but, according to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, the pope is also to meet privately with victims of child sexual abuse by clergy, six months after the publication of a shocking report by a commission of independent experts.
According to the survey carried out at the request of the Portuguese Catholic hierarchy, at least 4,815 minors have been victims of sexual violence within the Church since 1950.
No details of the meeting with the Portuguese victims have been released. “I know it will take place and it will be disclosed, but I myself don’t know where it will be or with how many people,” Bishop Clemente said.
“On the part of the Portuguese Church, the commitment is total to settle this question”, he underlined Monday in a press conference.
01/08/2023 04:23:59 – Lisbon (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
