Two months before what is considered to be the biggest event of the Catholic Church, there were some reports of the progress of the works on the lands of Lisbon and Loures, which will receive one million young people from all over the world.
The Portuguese capital will host World Youth Day (WYD) from 1 to 6 August, an event that Pope Francis will visit from 2 to 6 August.
Main body area WYD
The main venue of the event, in the Tejo Trancao Park (Lisbon and Loures), has an area of about 100 hectares (ha), which is equivalent to 12 football fields and almost double the area of the Vatican City State (44 ha).
It is located in the area of the former Beirolas sanitary landfill, spread over 38 hectares near the mouth of the Trancao River in Lisbon and over 75 hectares of a long coastal strip in Loures.
It is in the Tejo Trancao park that the Vigil and the Final Mass will be held on August 5 and 6, chaired by the head of the Catholic Church, respectively.
What does Tejo Park include?
5000 bathrooms, dozens of service tents and 60 multimedia towers with screens and speakers.
One project that was considered but ultimately rejected by the city councils of Lisbon and Loures was the construction of a military bridge, which was an investment of around one million euros, half supported by the two municipalities.
In order to unite the two banks, a bicycle bridge is being built under the responsibility of EMEL (Lisbon Mobility and Parking Company), representing an investment of 4.2 million euros.
According to the coordinator chosen by the government for the WYD, José Sa Fernandez, two weeks ago in an interview with Lusa, there will be no shade, no place to sit or rest.
Works by Loures
From the Loures side, 870,000 pilgrims are expected on about 75 hectares of land on the northern bank of the Trancao River.
This enclosure will have 416 water points (low ratio of water points per pilgrim), 90 sound points and 35 multimedia towers from where the pilgrims farthest from the stage can see the Pope and follow the ceremonies.
The land modeling and plumbing works are currently being finalized and the municipality expects to complete these works by June 20th.
Subsequently, a temporary electrical network will be placed.
Loures Municipality Vice President Sonia Paixao (PS) indicated that the estimated investment of around 10 million euros is being maintained.
Lisbon works and the scandalous stage altar
On approximately 38 hectares of land belonging to Lisbon, the main supporting infrastructures for WYD, namely the stage altar, will be installed.
Two months before the event, earthworks and infrastructure work on the ground have been completed, and construction work on the stage altar is progressing “at a good pace” and is expected to be completed in the month of June, the deputy minister said. Lusa Mayor of Lisbon Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP).
The 3,250 square meter stage altar was controversial due to the construction cost being changed.
The original budget for the stage altar was 4.2 million euros, and now its estimated cost is 2.98 million euros.
Also on this side, a bicycle bridge is to be completed within two weeks, under the responsibility of EMEL (Empresa de Mobilidade e Escolha de Lisboa) and representing an investment of 4.2 million euros.
The Eduardo VII Park in central Lisbon will also feature a 25-hectare stage (equivalent to three football fields).
This is where JMJLisboa2023 officially kicks off on the 1st in the afternoon.
An opening Mass will be celebrated under the chairmanship of the host of the meeting, Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon Manuel Clemente.
Also on this stage, on August 3, there will be a welcome ceremony presided over by Pope Francis.
According to the municipality, a construction site will be set up in June to prepare this fence.
On a global scale, the Lisbon Chamber expects to invest about 35 million euros in the tasks entrusted to it.
WDM in Oeiras
Between August 1st and 7th, various volunteer initiatives are planned to take part in WYD, and Oeiras is expected to host between 20,000 and 50,000 young volunteers per day.
The climax is on August 6, at Paseo Maritimo de Alges, where the Pope meets with the volunteers.
According to a memorandum of understanding approved in February by the Chamber of Oeiras, the municipality undertakes to install two stages in this enclosure, one “10 by 10 meters and the other 20 by 10 meters, a place for a side choir”, as well as lighting the enclosure and delimiting and accessing site and other security structures.
The investment, although not fully completed, should be around 1.5 million euros.
Loures Waste Management Plan
The management of waste generated during World Youth Day is the responsibility of the municipalities of Loures and Lisbon.
In the case of the Municipality of Loures, the City Council has prepared, together with the Intermunicipal Service for Water Supply and Sanitation (SIMAR), a waste management plan that includes reinforcing containers, vehicles and workers.
The municipality intends to purchase 84 containers with a capacity of 2500/3000 thousand liters and distribute them among 10 municipalities.
Small waste containers have also been procured and will be placed on the ground where the WYD will take place.
However, in this context, the municipality of Loures will provide 13 vehicles and mobilize 400 volunteers and more than 50 municipal employees.
Lisbon Waste Plan
Several ward mayors expressed concern about the cleanliness of the city during the six days of WYD.
Speaking with Lusa, Lisbon Deputy Mayor Anacoreta Correia acknowledged that the issue of waste is “one of the most difficult” to organize the event.
The mayor estimates that Lisbon’s permanent population will triple during WYD, and he warns of the need to maximize service capacity.
“I told the workers that this is the same as spending six nights in Santo Antonio in a row,” he warned, noting that “all funds” were being mobilized.
Reception at Loures
The municipality estimates that it will receive about 25,000 pilgrims in the municipality and will mobilize schools and pavilions for this purpose.
So far, the municipality of Loures has registered 215 overnight accommodations for pilgrims and a current capacity of 20,000 people.
Earlier this month, in statements to Lusa, João Clemente, coordinator of the WYD Organizing Committee of the Diocese of Lisbon, said that 4,500 pilgrim host families had been registered and 1,621 places for collective residence had been identified so far.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.