Schools are called upon to collect waste and create works of art hinting at WYD

World Youth Day in Lisbon 2023 (JMJLisboa2023) is mobilizing Portuguese schools for a garbage collection action that could lead to artworks hinting at the peace meeting with the Pope scheduled for August.

The JMJLisboa2023 Local Organizing Committee (COL) initiative includes the collection by students of participating schools of “waste in their area of ​​intervention and for their treatment”, offering “the creation of works of art that refer to JMJLisboa2023, with the coordination and supervision of teachers of training modules that are consistent with the project,” – said Sebastian Ribeiro of the organization cited by the Educris portal, of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education and the Doctrine of the Faith.

The project called “Limpar Portugal” aims to make the journey known as “an event for all” by mobilizing the little ones.

Sebastian Ribeiro emphasizes that one of the pillars of the Day “is the issue of sustainability”, so the goal is to “bring all educational communities to a global meeting of young people with the Pope and to attract those who are more aware of the issue of ecology and a common home from the very beginning. “.

In a published document on the initiative, COL encourages schools to carry out their activities within the framework of this project, disseminating the results, “lead by example and motivate other schools and colleges.”

For the National Secretariat for Christian Education, through the Department of Catholic Moral and Religious Education (EMRC), “Limpar Portugal” follows the line of thought of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si”.

This is “another opportunity to bring students closer and engage them in the positive dynamics of civic engagement through the discipline of EMRC. To meet with others, to be attentive to the needs of the world through concrete actions – waste collection – and their transformation. into a new reality,” indicate those in charge of discipline, who are also quoted by Eduris.

Lisbon has been chosen by Pope Francis for the next World Youth Day, which will take place from 1 to 6 August this year, with the main ceremonies taking place in Tagus Park, north of the Parc des Nations, on the banks of the river. Tagus, on lands in the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures.

WYD was born at the initiative of Pope John Paul II after the success of the meeting organized in 1985 in Rome as part of 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 originally scheduled for 2022 but was delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Pope Francis was the first to register for WMJLisboa2023 on October 23, 2022 at the Vatican after the Angelus celebration. This gesture marked the worldwide opening of registration for the World Youth Meeting with the Pope.