LISBON, PORTUGAL – Pope Francis didn’t shy away from addressing the troubling issue of clergy sex abuse as he embarked on his five-day visit to Portugal to kick off the first World Youth Day Catholic festival since the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon his arrival in Lisbon, the Pope took a strong stance against the “scandal” of clergy sex abuse, acknowledging its detrimental impact on the church and its faithful, while urging the Catholic hierarchy to adopt a new approach and provide better support for the victims.
The visit follows a panel’s findings, hired by the Portuguese church in February, which revealed that at least 4,815 boys and girls may have fallen victim to abuse by church personnel since 1950. Prior to this report, the Portuguese church authorities had downplayed the issue, asserting that only a few cases had occurred. After the report’s release, they initially mishandled the situation by refusing to remove named abusers from ministry and compensating the victims.
In Lisbon, Pope Francis is merging a state visit with a pilgrimage to the Catholic shrine at Fatima, combining the solemnity of the occasion with the exuberance of World Youth Day, a Catholic gathering aimed at empowering young Catholics in their faith. The event was expected to draw over one million young people from around the world, culminating in a papal Mass on Sunday.
While en route to Lisbon, Pope Francis expressed his desire to encourage young people to “make a mess,” alluding to his famous exhortation during his first World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. This call to action urges young people to shake up their parishes and aligns with the Pope’s ongoing revolutionary efforts to reform the church.
During his visit to Portugal, Pope Francis emphasized the need for peace amid global challenges such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, climate change, and Europe’s demographic decline. He called on young people to actively engage in building a unified future and envisioned a Europe that uses its vast talents to resolve conflicts and kindle hope. The Pope’s presence in Portugal carries symbolic importance, given the country’s seafaring history and openness to others.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis met with Portugal’s Catholic hierarchy at the 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery and church, where he likely discussed their legacy of clergy sexual abuse. He is also expected to meet privately with abuse survivors during his visit.
The Portuguese Catholic Church has faced criticism for its initial response to the independent commission’s report. The commission’s findings revealed widespread abuse, with most victims aged between 10 to 14 years old. Initially, the bishops minimized the extent of the abuse and hesitated to suspend active members of the clergy identified in the report. Their stance on compensating victims was also unclear and met with public disapproval.
Portuguese organizers had planned to unveil a memorial to victims during World Youth Day but later canceled the plan. Instead, victims’ advocates launched a campaign called “This is our memorial,” displaying billboards throughout the city to raise awareness about the issue.
World Youth Day, initiated by St. John Paul II in the 1980s, aims to inspire young Catholics in their faith. This year’s event sees a return to European soil for the first time since 2016, with participation expected from Ukrainian and Russian youths. The war in Ukraine will likely be a central theme during Francis’ visit to Fatima, a Catholic shrine historically associated with an apocalyptic prophecy concerning peace and Russia.
The event faced potential challenges due to the hot weather, with temperatures in Lisbon reaching 35°C (95°F) on Sunday. Organizers made provisions for participants, installing water tanks and increasing the number of drinking fountains in the city. Pope Francis’ health was also a concern, given his recent hospitalization in June for hernia repair and scar tissue removal.
As the five-day visit unfolds, Pope Francis aims to inspire and unite the next generation of Catholics to address global challenges and live out their faith with hope and compassion.