In a telephone conversation with Jorge Messias, the president declared to avoid religious acts in an election year; Flávio went to the event and spoke about “spiritual warfare”
The president (PT) stated this Thursday (June 4, 2026) that he did not attend the religious event, held in São Paulo, so as not to be opportunistic. The statement was made during a telephone conversation between the head of the Executive and Bishop Estevam Hernandes and the Union’s attorney general, .
Messias, who represented the president at the event, published the video of the dialogue on his Instagram page. Regarding the reason for his absence, Lula declared: “I’ll tell you why I won’t. I don’t participate in anything religious during election times because I don’t want to give the impression that I’m trying to take political advantage of something sacred.“.
Watch the video (1min10s):
The president said he was happy to have sanctioned the , which established the National Day of the March for Jesus in Brazil. The proposal is from the current federal deputy (Republicanos-RJ), who at the time was a senator. The bishop said he was grateful for the legislation. “Take good care of our bishop, Messiah“, said Lula in the recording.
FLAVIO ON THE MARCH
The senator (PL-RJ), the government’s main opponent in the October elections, participated in the 2026 edition. The congressman was applauded by the public.
Flávio also said that Brazil is experiencing a “great spiritual war”. “Nothing better than being here to recharge your batteries and pray for Brazilian families”, he declared.
In 2019, (PL) became the 1st sitting president to attend the evangelical event, which was interrupted in the following 2 years due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The March for Jesus in Brazil had its first edition in 1993, inspired by a mobilization of the same name held since the 1980s in the United Kingdom. In 2009, Lula, in his 2nd term, sanctioned the law that inserted the celebration into the country’s official calendar. The PT member never participated in the march in person.
