SW News: Pedro dos Santos Frazão, a Catholic parliament member of the Chega party in Portugal, shared his aspiration that the World Youth Day event, which has begun in Lisbon, will witness the conversion of hearts to Jesus. The father of 7 children, who represents Santarém, was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2022.

When asked about his hope for the Lisbon WYD, he told SW News, “May Lisbon be, as it was in other centuries, a starting point for great evangelizers who will bring the light of Christ and baptism to the 5 continents! May Lisbon be the starting point for young people to love the world passionately!”

“They can attack the Church, they can slander, persecute, or try to silence Christians… but it is Christ who lives in hearts, and, you see, it is Jesus who mobilizes the whole world. As the gospel tells us ‘cum festinatione’ – with joyful haste!,” Frazão posted on X on August 1 along with a picture of the World Youth Day event.

Thousands of young Catholics have arrived in Portugal from around the world to attend the 37th World Youth Day event taking place from August 1 to 6. The theme of the event, "Mary arose and went with haste," is inspired by the Bible verse from the Gospel of Luke.