Ivo Scapolo recalled Pope Francis’ presence in Portugal during the 2023 Youth Days, highlighting the happiness and serenity of the pontiff during his stay. Scapolo also mentioned the Pope’s availability to fulfill extra-agent requests and the affection demonstrated by the Portuguese.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Lisbon, Ivo Scapolo, recalled the Pope’s presence in Portugal on Wednesday on the 2023 Youth Days and stressed that Francis was happy in Portugall.
“It was happy when I was here,” the Holy See representative in Portugal told journalists after a Mass in suffrage by Pope Francis, who died on Monday.
When he was asked to remember how Francis was, in the light of his relations with the Pope, Ivo Scapolo remembered the five days he went through with him, namely the meals, and said that he keeps these days the fact that Francis feels good in Portugal, the affection that the Portuguese dismissed.
And also the “particular serenity and joy” as well as the availability to respond to extra-age requests from five days, from authorities, individuals, sick people. “I always said that yes.”
At the mass he presided over, in the Basilica of the star, the “Ambassador” said that this celebration had a particular relevance, after celebrations in the Cathedral and the Church of St. Dominic, which symbolized the “affection and gratitude of the Catholic community of Lisbon to Pope Francis”. The Basilica of the Star is the first in the world dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Francis’ main devotion.
And he quoted the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to praise his synthesis of the Pontificate of Francis, namely it was perhaps the greatest voice among spiritual leaders in recent years.
The journalists also spoke of another symbol of “affection and gratitude”, the messages left in the book of condolences in the nunciature, with “very beautiful words”, recalling special moments of visits to Portugal.
Words also of gratitude and appreciation for what he did for the good of the church and the world and the inheritance he leaves, which were left by Portuguese political leaders, he said.
