“Non tener miedo!” “Be not afraid!” This was an outstanding message from Pope Francis concluding the World Youth Day (WYD) festival on August 9, 2023, in Lisbon’s Parque de Tejo. His words summarise the intent of these events: an affirmative and growing experience in one’s faith. In a world characterised by the decline of Christianity in the West, it is a message that many needed to hear to inspire a revitalisation of the faith, as we face modern challenges. Together, with friends from Montreal, we lived an eye- opening two-week stay surrounded by the vibrant Catholic culture of Portugal.
Sé de Lisboa
We partook in many faith-sharing experiences, activities, and events such as daily mass, conferences, games and worship. The culmination of the festival was most impactful, with its gathering of over a million people from everywhere around the world, and the special time spent with Christ’s own Vicar. After experiencing the grandeur of Rome beforehand, WYD in Portugal provided a modest counterpart with the quaint size of its city, its church architecture and the overall simple day to day encounters that show how faith transcends time and place through everyday experiences. One example of this relates to a photo accepted to this inaugural issue of Cardinal Read. It is the Sé de Lisboa cathedral, originally built in the 13th century, that is located right across from a shrine on the birthplace of my patron saint, Anthony of Padua (born Fernando Martins de Bulhoes). I realised that growing up beneath the shadow of this cathedral must have influenced Anthony’s early life and helped him become one of the holiest men of his time and among the most venerated saints. In the WYD context, this provides an example of integrating faith, without fear, into one’s daily life to be on fire for the love of God and His Word.