Society

Military honours escort D. Pedro’s heart to Brazil

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The heart of D. Pedro IV, which the city of Porto temporarily donated for the Brazil’s Independence Bicentenary, is already on Brazilian soil. The airplane that flew the Mayor of Porto and the Municipal Police Commander, entity that from the beginning has guaranteed the object’s safety, has landed this Monday at the Brasília Air Force Base, where it was received with military honours.

Exiting the aircraft, the monarch’s heart was received by Portugal’s ambassador in Brazil, Luís Filipe Melo e Faro Ramos; Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, Brazilian Defence Minister; Carlos de Almeida Batista Júnior, Air Force commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier; and Luís Filipe de Orleães Bragança, Federal Deputy and descendant of the emperor responsible for the country’s independence.

Emphasising the heart, that was still in the airfield, this moment was solemnified as the Brazilian anthem played, which first verse mentions precisely the Ipiranga river, in which banks the emperor has uttered the famous expression “independence or death”, giving Brazil its independence on September 7th, 1822.

The reception speech was in charge of the Brazilian Defence Minister that stated “the determination of Brazilians to fight for freedom incurred under the inspiration of D. Pedro’s action.” “Today the heart of the national hero, known as ‘The Liberator’, this legitimate icon of Brazilian independence, a ruler far ahead of his time, a visionary and fearless leader, returns”, mentions Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Olivera.

Brazil’s government representative emphasised that “the kind cession [of the heart] by the Portuguese government reflects the mutual respect and indissoluble bonds of brotherhood, sealed in the peace, friendship and alliance treaty made in 1825, that unite Brazilian and Portuguese people. For this, we are very grateful”.

On his part, Rui Moreira underlined the significance that the temporary transfer of the nation’s founder has for Brazil. “First of all, symbolically, the return of the heart of the country’s first emperor, D. Pedro, is very important for Brazil. It is also very important for Portugal for he was a crucial figure in the affirmation of freedom in Portugal. And for the city of Porto that I represent here, because he was also the one who freed us from the shackles we had and was considered by the people of Porto as a king soldier”, TV Globo quoted.

With all travel expenses paid by the Federative Republic of Brazil, the object was then taken, under heavy security, to Palácio do Itamaraty, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. The heart’s security throughout its stay on Brazilian soil will be ensured by the Federal Police, the Military Police of the Federal District, the Armed Forces, and the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment under the permanent monitoring of the Porto’s Municipal Police Commander, António Leitão da Silva.

The celebrations of the Bicentenary of Brazil’s Independence will begin this Tuesday with a ceremony at the Palácio do Planato, headquarters of the Brazilian Presidency, in Brasilia, during which the Independence Anthem, a melody composed by the monarch himself, will be heard.

D. Pedro’s heart will be on public display until September 7, after which it will return to Porto, to be seen again at Irmandade da Lapa on the 10th and 11th. During this time, exhibitions, conferences, and publications will celebrate the king who offered his heart to the people who fought alongside him for freedom.