Inácio Rosa / Lusa
Papa Francisco in the Tagus Park, at the Closing Mass of the World Youth Day – JMJ 2023, in Lisbon
Always one apostle Of peace and freedom, Pope Francis will be honored in Parliament at the April 25 solemn session in Parliament. The national mourning for the high pontiff begins on Thursday and extends until Saturday.
Portugal will mark Three days of national mourning for the death of Pope Francis between Thursday and Saturday (April 24 to 26).
The announcement was made by the Prime Minister Luís Montenegrowhich said it has a presence in the funeral of the High Pontiff of the Catholic Church, which will take place in Rome on Saturday.
Montenegro will accompany the President of the Republic, MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSAof the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Brancoand also from the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel.
Mias late, the President of the Republic confirmed the presence. The Head of State, who spoke to journalists at the door of the Apostolic Nunciature of Santa See in Lisbon, where signed a condolence book for the death of Pope FrancisHe said he will be from Lisbon on the afternoon of April 25, after the solemn session in the Assembly of the Republic.
Honored on April 25
However, Aguiar-Branco considered that the Maintenance of the solemn session of the 25th of April in Parliament, even in the full mourning, Respects the legacy left by Pope Francis in Defense of democratic pluralism.
This position was defended by José Pedro Aguiar-Branco in statements to journalists at the door of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, in Lisbon, where he signed the book of condolences for the Pope’s death.
It was at the door of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, in Lisbon, where he also signed the book of condolences for the death of the Pope, which the President of the Assembly of the Republic confirmed the decision to maintain the celebratory solemn session of April 25, 1974, in Parliament, although Friday is the second three days of national mourning.
“In the solemn session of April 25 there will be a moment of tribute to Pope Francis, through a vote that I will present myself. Thus, at a time that is so solemn to Portugal and to the Portuguese people -April 25 -in such an important session for Portugal, this vote also means private gratitude and the particular appreciation that the Portuguese people had to this Pope”, Said the president of Parliament.
Francisco: Apostle of Peace and Freedom
According to Aguiar-Branco, the fact that there is national mourning next Friday does not collide from the legal point of view with the holding of the solemn session of the Revolution of April 25, 1974.
“I believe until meets the meaning of Pope Francis’ legacy – A legacy characterized by always being available through dialogue, through respect for the difference, through the confrontation of ideas and not the confrontation of arms. In the house of democracy, the house of the word -greater space of respect for difference and respect for the ideas of others -we will pay tribute to the legacy of a Pontificate marked by the word”He advocated.
José Pedro Aguiar-Branco also said that the traditional ceremonial inherent in the April 25 solemn session will remain, namely the moments of national anthem.
“It is a ceremonial of honor, and in this situation it is also a record of honor, because it is our national anthem. This is the quintessential session of Portuguese democracy, in which we also tax our democracy, our right to difference, the strength of the word to solve problems, the strength of what is the exchange of opinions in a society that, being plural, must try the consensus to reach the solutions. This is Pope Francis’ legacyfrom the point of view of what was his main weapon throughout his pontificate: the word, ”he insisted.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic also made a point of stressing that the vote of regret for the death of Pope Francis is a vote of the representatives of the Portuguese people.
“We will have a session that also dignifies the situation itself and, by no means, calls into question the mourning that the country feels and that the deputies also feel about this moment,” he added.
The 88 -year -old victim of a stroke after 12 years of pontificate.
