The President of the Republic said this Thursday that he hopes the World Youth Day ceremonies in Portugal will respect the current period and Pope Francis’ “simple, poor, non-triumphant vision”.
“He himself exemplifies a way of life and thinking that, even if we were not at war and even if we were not in the social situation we are in, requires simplicity,” defended Marcelo Rebelo de Souza.
Speaking to reporters in the former royal arena next to the Belém Palace in Lisbon, the head of state was confident that “the time will come when it will be effectively explained what the set of costs will be” with the Catholic meeting that Portugal will host in August.
The President of the Republic, referring to the controversy over the approximately five million euros allocated for the construction of a scenic altar in Lisbon, said that “there is an amount much higher than what the Portuguese state has reserved for these days.” , 36.5 million euros.
Spending is also “controlled by the Catholic Church, in one part” and “in the other part by the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures, at least those”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added.
Asked if the Portuguese Catholic Church should already give clarifications on this issue, the head of state placed this responsibility on all those involved in the organization of the World Youth Day: the municipalities, the state and the Catholic Church.
“I think that the trio will certainly give clarifications in due time,” he said.
According to the head of state, “the Portuguese expect the details to be in line with the thinking of the pope”, which is characterized by “defending a simple, poor, not triumphant vision”.
It is necessary to “respect the period in which we find ourselves and respect the very way of life of the pope, that is, this is the pope who contradicts what is terrifying,” he reinforced, expressing the conviction that “a simple solution must be found, corresponding to what he thinks dad”.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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