Parque da Cidade took in thousands of pilgrims for “Dias na Diocese”

Thousands of young people preparing themselves for the World Youth Day, alongside thousand worshippers, participated in the service presided by the Porto bishop, D. Manuel Linda, on Saturday at the Parque da Cidade. The ceremony, integrated in the programme for “Dias na Diocese”, and that precedes World Youth Day, happened with the presence of 44 bishops, a chorus with more than 400 singers and an army band.

Flags of several countries coloured the precinct of Queimódromo. More than 16 thousand pilgrims, according to the organisation, watched the service. Also present was the councillor for Youth, Catarina Araújo.

“When you go back to your countries and homelands, you should mention how back there, in the back door of Europe, there is a nice and welcoming country called Portugal”, D. Manuel Linda asserted during the homily, taking a moment to talk about Jesus Christ’s influencers.

The get-together went on in the afternoon, with concerts, namely by singer Aurea and by the bands “Follow Him”, “Missio” and “The Sun”, and a lot of amusement.

These days, the Porto Diocese has taken in more than 16 thousand young people from 61 countries. Poland and France are the most represented ones, but young people represent in high numbers South Korea, Brazil, Angola, United Arab Emirates, among many others. A great number of these young pilgrims are housed with foster families, in parish buildings or in schools.

“Dias na Diocese” represent the week that anticipates World Youth Day and will take place, until today, in 17 parishes of Portugal. Now, these young pilgrims go toward Lisbon to take part in the initiative that will count on the presence of Pope Francis.