Pope Francis braces for sweltering conditions and optimism in Portugal amidst the aftermath of a sexual abuse scandal

Pope Francis is set to travel to Portugal on Wednesday to inaugurate the first World Youth Day following the global pandemic, with an aim to uplift the future generation of Catholics, while simultaneously addressing the persistent clergy sexual abuse scandal within the church.

The Lisbon gathering is predicted to attract over a million young people worldwide, spanning across several days. The influx of pilgrims began ahead of Tuesday, even with weekend temperatures projected to peak at 35 C (95 F) for the final papal Mass.

“Stay hydrated!” is the motto being advanced by the Portuguese health authorities for this event. On Monday, Prime Minister António Costa advised the young volunteers of the event to carry plenty of water and wear hats to counteract the heat.

Américo Aguiar, the Cardinal-elect and Lisbon bishop responsible for orchestrating the festival, stated that this year’s World Youth Day holds a unique significance following two years of COVID-19 lockdowns. Aguiar emphasized the importance of this gathering for Catholic youths, particularly given the current full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the prevailing global economic uncertainties.

Pope Francis arrives in Portugal on Wednesday, starting his day with a meeting with Portuguese officials at the Belem National Palace. Later in the day, he’ll head to the iconic 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery and church, Portugal’s most significant monument. Here, he is scheduled to meet with the Portuguese Catholic hierarchy that has recently started grappling with the consequences of its legacy of clergy sexual abuse.

During his stay, Pope Francis is expected to have confidential meetings with survivors of abuse and possibly address the issue publicly, as he has done on previous international visits. The Portuguese bishops have been criticized for their initial response to an independent commission’s report that exposed the abuse of at least 4,815 children since 1950.

The Portuguese Catholic Church had announced plans to build a memorial for the victims to be revealed during World Youth Day. However, this plan was later cancelled, and in its stead, advocates for the victims have initiated a campaign called “This is our memorial,” intending to erect billboards around Lisbon displaying “4,800+ Children Abused.”

World Youth Day was established in the 1980s by St. John Paul II as a means to motivate the forthcoming generation of Catholics in their faith, and it’s returning to Europe for the first time since 2016.

The heat will likely pose a challenge during the five-day visit, as temperatures in Lisbon are forecasted to reach 35 C (95 F) on Sunday. Many youths are expected to camp in the expansive, sun-drenched Tagus Park from Saturday afternoon, both for an evening vigil and to secure their spots for Francis’ final Mass on Sunday morning.

To accommodate the anticipated heat, organizers have set up 32 water tanks with 640 taps for refilling water bottles, and the Lisbon City Council has doubled the city’s drinking fountains to roughly 400.

However, concerns extend to Pope Francis himself given his frail health condition: The 86-year-old Argentine pope underwent a nine-day hospitalization in June for hernia repair and scar tissue removal from prior intestinal surgeries. Despite travelling with a medical team, the extreme heat is a cause for worry.

Yet, many hold faith in his resilience. Theresa Guettler, a volunteering nurse from Florida at the event, said, “I trust that he has good doctors and good people taking care of him.”

This religion coverage is supported by Big Big News through its partnership with The Conversation US, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. Big Big News solely provides the content.

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More about Pope Francis’ Visit to Portugal

• World Youth Day
• Pope Francis
• Clergy sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church
• Jeronimos Monastery and Church
• Cardinal-elect Américo Aguiar
• Catholic Church in Portugal
• Climate change and the Pope’s stance