More than 50 pilgrims did not return to Guinea-Bissau after traveling to participate in WYD

More than 50 Guinean pilgrims who traveled to Portugal to attend World Youth Day (WYD) have not returned to Guinea-Bissau, according to figures released on Monday in Luz by groups in charge of the African country.

Of the 135 participants from the dioceses of Bissau and Bafat and two religious organizations, five remain in Portugal to deal with health issues, but upon the return of the groups to Guinea-Bissau, local organizations noted more than 50 absentees.

The Guinean group leaders regret what happened and are ready to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities, not least because, as they pointed out, the visa was short, 29 days, and expired on 19 August.

The largest number of Guinean pilgrims came from the Diocese of Bissau: 71 participants from the diocesan group, five from the Jufra Catholic Organization and two from the Focolare Movement.

As the general coordinator of the Guinean delegation, monk Galliano Oliveira, explained to Luce, out of 71 elements of the diocesan group, 18 did not return, the Jufra organization returned without two members, and Focolare without one of the pilgrims.

“Lisbon paid special attention to us, this should not have happened,” he lamented, indicating that he was ready to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities with all the data on the elements in question, which, in his opinion, had a “selfish” attitude.

According to the coordinator, these pilgrims are between 25 and 40 years old, and at least two of them “did not report their arrival in Lisbon and did not join the group” to which they belonged.

The position of the coordinator and Bishop of Bissau “is to sanction” the position of these elements, “unless the Portuguese state considers it otherwise”, as he stressed.

“It hurt the authorities, institutions and the commission that worked on it very much,” he said.

Another coordinator, Father Dingan Siga, told Lusa that from the diocese of Bafat, 57 pilgrims went to Lisbon and “more than 30 did not return” to Guinea-Bissau.

According to him, “five young people remained in Portugal because they asked for some medical consultations” and should remain in the country “until the end of September.”

But “more than 30 young people” left the group and did not return to Guinea-Bissau.

“It’s a pity,” he said, criticizing the behavior, which he said showed a lack of “understanding of what it means to represent a community.”

“Many people would probably take advantage of this opportunity and not prioritize Travel, they already had that intention [de ficar em Portugal]”, he pointed out.

Dingan’s father Shiga believes that the solution of these elements “had a strong impact on the diaspora living in Portugal and the family members living there.”

“This made us very upset, we expected a different behavior,” he said.

However, the person in charge believes that the participation of the Guineans was “very positive”, as the country was represented at various WYD events that took place from 1 to 6 August in Lisbon.