Cardinal Américo Aguiar urged people in Rome today to experience Advent “with hope, joy, but also with commitment to the poorest and most needy”.
In his homily at the Mass that marked his inauguration as titular head of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Rome, a church that was granted to Américo Aguiar by Pope Francis when he was created a cardinal on September 30, the bishop of Setúbal recalled “all the days and nights that were spent in preparation for and during World Youth Day in Lisbon”, “vigils that were often arduous and demanding”.
“But then, the living Christ allowed us to have the beautiful experience, which we carry in our hearts, of so many memories, so many testimonies and so much hope. That’s why I’d like to recall the words that our dear Pope Francis shared with us a few days ago: ‘Thank you for what you have done’,” said Américo Aguiar, in front of many Portuguese who took part in the preparations for WYD Lisbon 2023, which took place in the Portuguese capital in August.
The cardinal wished that the days spent in Rome and Assisi by the Portuguese delegation that went to thank the Pope for WYD in Lisbon “could give new impetus to (…) missionary commitment, so that, with the simplicity of St. Anthony, (…) the living Christ may reach ‘everyone, everyone'”.
Today’s Mass was the last point of the program that brought hundreds of people to Rome, including volunteers, business partners and Church and public officials involved in organizing WYD, having been received on Thursday in audience by Pope Francis.
On the occasion, the Pontiff thanked all those who had contributed to making WYD Lisbon 2023 “a strong nucleus of evangelization, joy and youthful expression”.
During the audience, attended by cardinals Manuel Clemente (patriarch emeritus of Lisbon) and Américo Aguiar (president of the WYD 2023 Foundation and bishop of Setúbal), as well as bishops Rui Valério (patriarch of Lisbon) and Joaquim Mendes (auxiliary of the Patriarchate), he referred to Américo Aguiar as “a special cardinal, a bit of an ‘enfant terrible'”, and paid tribute to the work of those who contributed to the success of WYD.
Francis had a text prepared to read at the audience, which, due to the health problems that have affected him in recent days, was read by Monsignor Ferreira da Costa, a Portuguese priest who works in the Vatican Secretariat of State.
“What a joy to see you here together! I would like to begin by renewing my gratitude to you and to the whole Church, especially the young people! You were entrusted with the realization of this world meeting, and you, strong with the help of many and an extraordinary grace from God, have not let us down. Well done!” the document reads, adding that WYD Lisbon 2023 has succeeded in “bringing to the center those who until now had lived on the margins”, inviting them to maintain their commitment to this “great common dream”.
The delegation’s visit to Rome began on Wednesday and opened with the celebration of Mass in the Church of St. Anthony of the Portuguese, which the Holy See has assigned to Cardinal Manuel Clemente.
Today, at Mass in the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Rome, Américo Aguiar warned against the risk of thinking that “these days [in Rome and Assisi] are the conclusion of this Journey [WYD]”.
“If we think like that, we are profoundly mistaken: the Day will continue, in our hearts, in our communities and in the lives of those who have crossed our paths,” said the youngest Portuguese cardinal, who didn’t miss the opportunity to humorously highlight the origin of the patron saint of the basilica he took possession of.
“Today I have been given the grace to take possession of the title of cardinal of this Basilica of St. Anthony. We have a problem: he is from Lisbon, although the title calls him from Padua. We will solve the problem with fraternity and communion in prayer!” said Américo Aguiar.
