The Caretos de Podence were received, this Wednesday, by the Pope in a general audience. And they took advantage of the meeting to offer him a typical masked costume.
It was to mark 5 years of classification as Intangible and Cultural Heritage of Humanity that the Caretos de Podence went to the Vatican to meet the Pope.
The objective was to make the tradition known by offering the costume that masked people wear in the Shrovetide Shrovetide ritual. THEdecorated with colorful fringes, it was made in the village of Podence itself.
“He was part of the Casa do Careto collection and I find it encouraging and an honor to be with him in these moments. It wasn’t much, but it was very rewarding. It is a great source of pride for the Caretos de Podence, for Trás-os-Montes and for Portugal”, says António Carneiro from the Caretos de Podence association.
Now the intention is to include the image of the Pope in this kind of open-air art gallery that brings together other well-known figures. And the head of the Catholic Church will already be present through this painting in Podence at the next carnival.