PORTUGAL: Pope Francis pledged to continue promoting reforms within the Catholic Church during a five-day visit to Portugal to attend World Youth Day. The trip is taking place amid a major controversy surrounding clerical sexual abuse in Portugal, with the local population outraged at the exorbitant price.
Francis told the media that he was reminded of his advice to the world’s children to speak up and to bring changes to the church during his first World Youth Day, which was held in Brazil ten years ago.
Since his election in 2013, Francis has made several reforms, including increasing women’s roles and making the Church more accepting of certain groups, such as the LGBT community. He emphasized the importance of agitating for change and bringing about change.
Pope Francis is travelling for the first time since having intestinal surgery in June. He expressed his desire to return to Rome on Sunday, “rejuvenated by his encounter with young people.” Francis appeared in good health and will preside over the ceremony for the fourth time since his election.
In his first speech, he emphasized the global challenges, including the war in Ukraine, and called for Europe to find the resolve to end it and other wars. Francis spoke to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and diplomats at a cultural centre.
Europe should redirect funds from armaments spending to support families and education, addressing declining birth rates exacerbated by housing costs, the pope added. He also urged Europe to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants, aiming to increase populations and combat mass deaths at sea and empty cradles.
The youth gathering in Portugal, with a Catholic majority, was held less than six months after a report revealed at least 4,815 adolescents were sexually molested by clergy members over a seven-decade period.
Filipa Almeida, a 43-year-old victim of abuse, told the UK media that the Church has a great opportunity to help victims. Victims of abuse are expected to meet privately with Pope Francis.
A billboard in Lisbon promoting awareness of clerical sexual abuse was erected hours before Francis’ arrival.
Francis will also go to the Sanctuary of Fatima, which is a town north of Lisbon where three underprivileged shepherd children are said by the Church to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1917.
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