The Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Valério, addressed local elected officials on Sunday, stating that the world is experiencing a “decisive moment” in society, which calls for elected representatives to fulfill a “political service” in the interests of peace, justice, and hope.
“Cultural and social changes challenge us to reaffirm, with courage and hope, the values that sustain communal life: the inviolable dignity of each human person, the irreplaceable value of the family, attention to the poorest and most vulnerable, and care for the common home entrusted to us by God,” stated the patriarch.
In his message, the archbishop extended his greetings to “all those elected to serve” local communities, expressing gratitude for “the availability and generosity with which they have committed to dedicating time, talent, and effort to the common good.”
“Political mission is one of the highest forms of charity, as often reminded by the Social Doctrine of the Church,” he emphasized, adding that “true power is not measured by dominance, but by the ability to serve.”
The patriarch further remarked that “to govern is to care: it is to listen to people, seek the good of all, especially the most forgotten.”
“I am confident that the newly elected will assume their mandate with a spirit of service, dialogue, and proximity, building a more just, fraternal, and solidary society,” he added.
The 14th local elections were held in Portugal on Sunday, with the PSD securing a victory and reclaiming the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP).
In Lisbon, the seat of the Patriarchate, the PSD/IL/CDS coalition emerged victorious, with social democrat Carlos Moedas remaining as the head of the local council.
