2023-04-22 14:59:23
Pope Francis said this Saturday in a video recorded with the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, that he was happy to return to Lisbon and Portugal. “I am happy with what you are doing. And forgive me for the possible confusion this initiative may be causing. Thank you for what you are doing. I wish you the best and God bless us. Thank you for your work.”
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the mayor of Lisbon described the visit he made this morning to Pope Francis, “a simple and very remarkable meeting” that resulted “in an unexpected and informal way, but very beautiful” in a video recorded with Carlos’ cell phone. Coins that he intends to disseminate “to the people of Lisbon and Portugal because the Holy Father is addressing all those who are committed to WYD”.
“It was a very memorable moment in which I transmitted the energy that people from Lisbon transmitted to me. I forwarded all the requests that were made to me because I was there representing Lisbon and he, in a very unique moment, wanted to record a video to thank Lisbon for the reception. It was a very unexpected and informal moment from a very simple and very humble man,” he described.
Carlos Moedas was received by Francis at the Apostolic Palace, in the Vatican, on the day that marks 100 days for the start of World Youth Day, which will take place in the capital in August.
To Lusa, Carlos Moedas told that they spoke about Lisbon and that the Pope wanted to know more about the most vulnerable and about the multicultural aspect of the capital.
“He wanted to know a lot about people, about Lisbon people. I told him about municipal districts and the difficulties of people’s lives. He told me that he only feels good among people and with people. It was one of the phrases that marked me from this meeting, ”he said.
According to the mayor, Francis conveyed his hope that WYD will be “a moment for all religions and also for young people who have no religion” with “young people thinking about the future” from themes such as sustainability, poverty and multiculturalism.
Carlos Moedas took the opportunity to show Pope Francis a video about Parque Tejo, where WYD will take place and told him that “the grass is being watered with water used to save drinking water”.
“He was very happy to know that we are planning everything in a sustainable park that protects nature. It was very unique. He is a man with great simplicity, but also with great energy. I noticed that he was very excited about going to Lisbon. I found him very fit, in good spirits and in good health,” he summarized.
On Thursday, in a statement announcing the trip of Coins to Rome, the Lisbon City Council said that all the work underway for the World Youth Day (WYD) is meeting the planned schedules and, depending on the local authority , “all the demanding details are being duly taken care of”.
Lisbon was the city chosen by Pope Francis for the next edition of World Youth Day, which will take place between the 1st and 6th of August, with the main ceremonies taking place in Parque Tejo, north of Parque das Nações, on the bank riverside of the Tagus, on land in the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures.
WYD was born on the initiative of Pope John Paul II, after the success of the meeting promoted in 1985 in Rome, in the International Year of Youth.
The first edition took place in 1986, in Rome, having already passed through Buenos Aires (1987), Santiago de Compostela (1989), Czestochowa (1991), Denver (1993), Manila (1995), Paris (1997), Rome (2000 ), Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005), Sydney (2008), Madrid (2011), Rio de Janeiro (2013), Krakow (2016) and Panama (2019).
This year’s edition, which will be closed by the Pope, was initially scheduled for 2022, but was postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Pope Francis was the first person to register for JMJLisboa2023, on October 23, 2022, at the Vatican, after the celebration of the Angelus. This gesture marked the worldwide opening of registration for the world meeting of young people with the Pope.
So far, more than half a million young people have started the registration process.
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