WYD Lisbon 2023: «No young person is unable to participate in the day for economic reasons» – D. Américo Aguiar (with photos)
One year away from the world meeting, the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation’s journey is «expected by the participants» and the most lost as president, whether «ecologically»
Lisbon, 07 Aug 2022 (Ecclesia) – The president of the Foundation of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023, told the ECCLESIA Agency that the initiative is for “all young people” and hopes that, despite the economic difficulties, “it will be “ of the most participated”.
We have difficulties, as well as all people around the world, in finding solutions to be able to participate and find solutions for anything to which we are alternatives, which help us to think of solutions so that they can respond to what is needed. Traditionally, no young person is unable to participate in the journey for economic reasons”, said D. Américo Aguiar.
In an interview with this Sunday’s ’70×7′ program (RTP2, 5:30 pm), the Lisbon assistant said that, despite the various “conditions”, he hopes that the bishop of WYD Lisbon 2023 will be participated by young people from all countries of the world.
We would like the Lisbon journey to be one of the most attended. It is our wish, although we do not have the idea that all countries can be possible in the world, this we do not have the idea that all countries can achieve. From there, we have to manage what the expectations are”.
The president of the JMJ Lisbon 2023 Foundation also revealed that he would like, when leaving Portugal, for each young person to be able to take “an experience” of the meeting with other young people and that, “each Portuguese and each community”, would also feel like a “challenge won” .
“This time the challenge is not to travel abroad. This time we are the ones who are going to welcome the young people into our home! And I have the same soul as our young people, our communities, our communities, that our family see this joy in our home, says our interviewee.
D. Américo Aguiar recalled that the Portuguese people “from new worlds to the world” and want the Journey to recreate that experience.
“The departure, the sending that the Pope will make to the youth of the whole world, from Lisbon, could also be new paths for the world, after so many trials that we have been through in recent times”, he assumes.
Seeking the organization of JJ Lisboa 23, support path by 23 Financial Organizing Committee, Logistics, dialogue and proximity, communication, welcoming and volunteering, the person in charge refers to this as a “sustainable organization, both economically and ecologically”.
The president of the JMJ Lisbon 2023 Foundation also values the “future function” of the “Parque Tejo” space, where the final WYD events will take place, namely Vigil and Sending Mass, which will be transformed into a riverside park, in Loures.
“The space used will have a future function: a huge park will be born here for the enjoyment of the population of Lisbon and Loures and of all Portuguese people and, for the first time Loures, will have a front of the Tagus”, he recalls.
Faced with the allegations of sexual abuse known lately, Archbishop Américo Aguiar understands that the “time is of opportunity” in the union with Pope Francis, who asks for “total transparency and zero tolerance”.
The official in advance still hopes to arrive “relieved and happy” on August 7, 2023, after the edition of WYD in Lisbon, with the feeling of the Portuguese “having been able” and helping to change the youth of the whole world, “sent to to the lands, after having learned what nostalgia is”.
PR/SN
Photo: ECCLESIA/HM Agency