Americano Aguiar says it’s too early to talk about preparations for WYD, but he admits there are “challenges”

Almost two months after World Youth Day, the organization’s chief spokesman, Bishop Americano Aguiar, says there is “still time” to recount the most difficult moments experienced in preparing for the global meeting with the Pope.

“It takes time because the hardest things always involve people and I think it’s unfair because I may not see well, I may still be hot and hurt and so I think it’s not time yet.” – says Américo Aguiar in a joint interview with the Lusa agency and the Ecclesia agency.

So far he openly says that there were “difficulties, problems” both in the Church and in relations with institutions.

However, he also highlights the contrast with the enthusiasm he found during the Day among many professionals from different sectors with whom he came into contact.

“I would like to say that during the Journey, as it felt and it was true, I was trapped in this environment and could not go beyond this “house arrest.” But during the night I made several escapes, went to visit, talked to the police, talked to the doctors, talked to the city hygienists, and I’m glad I did it. They were happy. I thought it was discomfort. , because they needed to work, because they came from I don’t know where. This is not what I found. [antes] the joy of participation, the joy of being part,” he guarantees.

And this is exactly how the future cardinal wants the Portuguese to feel: “so that everyone feels that they have done a small thing and made a journey.”

“The success of the Journey, the joy with which we experienced this unique event in the life of Portugal, the Portuguese, was due to a policeman, a fireman, a city hygienist, anonymous. This happened thanks to everyone’s commitment and that’s why it hurts and hurts me when light criticism comes, populism comes, Rafeirada comes, I don’t know what to spoil what was done with such care, with such dedication, with such sacrifices for everyone Portuguese,” adds the President of the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation.

Regarding the controversies that have arisen in recent months, including the costs of the organization, namely the altar stage in the Tagus Park, Américo Aguiar says: “I wish some had not happened, but they have.”

“The only one to blame is me, because I couldn’t explain, I couldn’t explain it. I’m fully aware of it, but the more time passes, the more I believe that Portugal and the Portuguese, I’m not saying they will relativize, but they will perhaps understand the magnitude of this thing,” he states.

“And that was my big Achilles heel, it was [o não conseguir] convey the size of a thing, and the size of a thing also meant the size of everything associated with World Youth Day, be it participants or costs, be it expenses, be it time, everything, there was a lot of everything, there was a lot of joy, everything was very good and everything was very expensive, a lot of effort, a lot of dedication and a lot of problems,” he adds.

Having already announced that the final reports for WYD week will be presented soon and that the world meeting has turned a profit, the question now arises as to whether the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation will be closed or will continue to operate.

“Initially when we started this journey, the intention was that the Fund, after meeting the statutory deadlines for meeting its tax obligations, could be wound up because the primary purpose had been annulled. It will depend on the reading that patriarch Rui Valerio makes of reality,” says Americano Aguiar.

According to the bishop, the new patriarch “can understand, since it is also not unreasonable, that the foundation can be maintained, even in order (…) to continue to do what may be happening in the country related to youth, always as a legacy , as a legacy of what World Youth Day 2023 was.”