:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/JJLTU4VICNBRDJFK6YPMWFA7YQ.jpg)
He Pope Francisco arrived this wednesday Lisbonwhere about a million pilgrims from all continents await you to participate in World Youth Day (WYD), a massive event for a Catholic Church in full reflection on its future.
READ ALSO: Donald Trump can participate in the accused elections, even if he ends up in prison
“I will be back [del viaje] rejuvenated”the 86-year-old pontiff told journalists who accompanied him on the plane that landed at 09:45 local time (08:45 GMT) at the military airport in Lisbon.
The Argentine Jesuit, who underwent a major abdominal operation two months ago, traveled in a wheelchair to the runway, where he was received by the president of Portugalthe conservative Marcelo Rebelo de Sousaand various authorities.
His direct and spontaneous style earned him strong popularity among young people, so it is expected that Jorge bergoglio board in Lisbon important issues for this generation, such as the war in Ukraineecology or social justice, at a time when the Catholic Church faces the challenge of secularization in Europe.
Hundreds of young people crowded impatiently in the neighborhood of belemwhere Francisco will start with the authorities his full agenda for these five days, to welcome him singing songs like “This is the youth of the Pope” and beating their drums.
“We love him very much because he transmits to us the love that God has for us. I think the fundamental thing is the charisma he has”indicated Byron Santiago Chojolara 26-year-old pilgrim from Guatemala.
“The difference with other popes is that he is Latin American,” valued on his side samuel namavera 17-year-old American student, who was also waiting to see him. “He likes contact, joking, makes many football references (…) He knows how to reach our hearts”he added.
The organizers expect the participation of a million pilgrims in total in this week of festive, cultural and spiritual encounters that started on Tuesday with the opening mass in a central city park.
KNOW MORE: El Salvador: Bukele establishes a military siege with more than 8,000 agents to detain gang members
WYD Territory
In recent days, the Portuguese capital has been filling up with colorful groups of young people carrying flags from all over the world through the streets of this city now taken over by the WYDin which they mobilized 16,000 troops of security, civil protection and medical emergencies for the event.
Less than two months before an assembly to address the future of the Church begins in Rome, the WYD It will also act as a barometer on the position of young Catholics towards issues such as the treatment of people LGBT+the marriage of priests or the position of women.
Before his first meeting with the youth on Thursday, the agenda of Francisco will be dedicated on Wednesday to the authorities and clergy of this country where 80% of its 10 million inhabitants define themselves as Catholics.
READ ALSO: Poland denounces the interference of two Belarusian helicopters over its airspace
victims of pedophilia
fourth pope to visit Portugalwhere he was already in 2017, Francisco could take advantage of his stay to address the delicate issue of sexual abuse minors in the Church, six months after a commission of independent experts in the country published a shocking report.
The document, released in February at the request of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, revealed that 4,815 minors had been victims of sexual abuse in a religious context since 1950. These attacks were covered up by the ecclesiastical hierarchy in a “systematic” way, according to the report by The experts.
According to Portuguese Episcopal Conference and the head of the local organizing committee of the WYDthe Pope must meet in private with victims of these abuses, although this meeting is not currently on the official program.
Saturday, Francisco will make a quick visit to the sanctuary of Fátima (center), before returning to Lisbon to participate in a great vigiland preside over the final mass the following day.
Considered the largest international gathering of Catholics, the WYD was created in 1986 at the initiative of John Paul II and consists of a series of festive, cultural and spiritual events. This edition should have been held in 2022, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
After the held in Rio de Janeiro (2013), Krakow (2016) and Panama (2019), this is the fourth WYD for Francisco, whose health seems increasingly fragile. Hospitalized three times since 2021, the Argentine pontiff now usually moves in a wheelchair or with the help of a cane.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
