As World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon approaches, Domingos Fezas Vital, the Portuguese Ambassador to the Holy See, speaks about the “deep sense of responsibility,” but also of the “immense joy” that is accompanying the entire country toward the international event.
By Patricia Ynestroza and Edoardo Giribaldi
“The country is getting ready as a whole, including families and youths,” according to Domingos Fezas Vital, Portugal’s Ambassador to Holy See, as he expressed the nations’s feelings in the days preceding the 37th World Youth Day.
The event will take place in Lisbon, on 1-6 August, and will see the presence of over 400,000 young people who registered for the event. It was initially scheduled to take place in 2022, but was later postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Joy and responsibility
“Given the importance of this event, which is unique, we feel a deep sense of responsibility,” Ambassador Fezas Vital said, “but also of immense joy.”
The ambassador’s hope is for the upcoming World Youth Day “to be seen as a sign of hope in a better world, more just and more sustainable.”
Moment of prayer
The motto chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s World Youth Day is: “Mary arose and went with haste,” recalling Luke’s Gospel account of the Visitation.
Among the various moments characterizing the Pope’s participation in World Youth Day, there is a moment of prayer for peace that Pope Francis will lead at the Marian Shine of Fatima.
Peace in times of conflicts
Regarding the theme of peace in a time of war and conflicts, the ambassador highlighted how “Portugal believes that the best guarantee of peace for the world is the respect for the UN rules and commitments to each other that all countries have endorsed.”
“If we all respect them, we will have peace,” Mr. Fezas Vital affirmed.
Open attitude
The ambassador noted Portugal’s “open attitude,” in terms of issues related to the flow of migrants, which are strictly interconnected with conflicts present worldwide.
“We also strongly believe,” he added, “that more support has to be provided to the countries of origin.”
