Brotherhood of the Clérigos pays tribute to D. Américo Aguiar for his work in Porto

D. Américo Aguiar, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, was honoured by the Brotherhood of the Clérigos that does not forget his key role in the rehabilitation works of the Clérigos Church and the cultural revitalisation of the landmark monument in Porto. “This revitalisation gave a new breathe to people in Porto”, emphasized Rui Moreira, during the tribute that gathered several representatives and personalities of Porto’s civil society, and also relied on a word of thanks by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

“I can only appreciate and take those works kindly, as they are the fruit of your friendship”, noted D. Américo Aguiar, highlighting that it would not have been possible to carry out the works if it weren’t for the congregation of so many wishes. “Thank God we don’t have a Court of Auditors, otherwise we would not have done the work”, he quipped.

During his intervention, the current Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon shared his feeling towards Porto. “The city carries on. Still a few days ago, it approved its Master Plan, which means there is a future, there is hope. When we look at the city we see the project of the former Matadouro developing, as well as the Terminal Intermodal de Campanhã, and we see the bridge D. António Francisco dos Santos being brought to life and we are happy because the city is alive and we see things permanently reviving”.

D. Américo Aguiar also drew a parallel of his actions while presiding the Brotherhood of the Clérigos, during the ceremony that took place early this week, and which was attended by the President of the Municipal Assembly of Porto, Miguel Pereira Leite, by Professor Valente de Oliveira, by the President of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, António Tavares, by the President of Porto Trade Association, Nuno Botelho, among other representatives. “This is what we have done. In this responsibility that we were entrusted with, we tried to do what was urgent, always trying to give back to the city”.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon also recalled that the work by Nicolau Nasoni, on the day that marks 290 years on the decision to build the Clérigos Tower, as “the fruit of our city that has always had capable and committed people to do things in the right time, and as much as we do not evaluate things at the time; also, every time a work is done, everyone talks ill of it”, he enthused.

Recalling, as well, the intervention of “the senator Valente de Oliveira” and acknowledging that “because of him we have daily concerts until today” (since the rehabilitation works of the Clérigos Tower, over 2000 concerts were held with the support of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Porto and the Palácio da Bolsa”. D. Américo Aguiar also said a particular word of thanks to Rui Moreira: “our burgomaster relies on us as we rely on you so that the city continues to thrive, because Porto is Porto”, he concluded.

The Mayor of Porto, who had already addressed the occasion, highlighted that “it is a good thing when one can honour people when they are healthy and alive. Unfortunately, we have the habit in Portugal of doing so when people are not here or are unwell”. To Rui Moreira, when D. Américo Aguiar was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, “I had a mixed feeling, I think the entire city had. On one hand, the fair recognition of all the work you have done here, and on the other hand the feeling that you would be space”, the Mayor enhanced and noted the personal friendship he has with D. Américo Aguiar.

“The city has with you a special friendship that was built. Because you had that impulse of convincing people to never say no; that is a gift”, Rui Moreira added, and emphasized that under the auspices of D. Américo Aguiar “this church has reborn”, “regardless of tourism and the economic issue”, which is a good thing for the ego of the people of Porto and their feeling of belonging.

Also present at the tribute were the Bishop of Porto, D. Manuel Linda, the President of the Brotherhood of the Clérigos, the father Manuel Fernando Soares da Silva, the President of the Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, Luís Pedro Martins, the Director of the Regional Directorate of Culture in the North, and by videoconference, the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, and the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The common note was the praise to the work by D. Américo Aguiar, who knew how to “bring together wills” and put the Clérigos Church in the world map. Luís Pedro Martins, the President of the Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, noted that “prior to the rehabilitation works we would welcome circa 150 thousand tourists, and when D. Américo Aguiar terminates his functions, we would get circa 1.5 million tourists.”