In particular, the group challenges the high public spending by the state and local authorities on WYD, which began on Tuesday and ends on Sunday.
Hundreds of people gathered this Friday in Martim Moniz, Lisbon, demonstrating against the holding of World Youth Day (WYD) and against the Catholic Church, in a protest organized by the citizens’ movement “Sem Papas na Língua”.
In particular, the group challenges the high public spending by the state and local authorities on WYD, which began on Tuesday and ends on Sunday.
There are also many references to sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
Protesters held up placards with phrases such as: “treat Portugal as if the Pope were here all year round”, “4,815 + 40. How many more need to be abused?” and “no more taking our money”.
The protest took place in front of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, in Martim Moniz, where the organization set up two speakers, a small sound system and placed the LGBTI+, trans and non-binary flags in front.
Around 7:30 p.m., one of the members of the organization read the manifesto of the movement “Sem Papas na Língua”, which protests against the Catholic Church and its “historical tradition of sexual abuse of minors”.
The document also criticizes the 40.2 million euros spent by the Lisbon City Council on WYD, pointing out that, “while this is happening, people continue without decent housing and the poor remain poor, sleeping on the streets, more or less hidden from the public”.
“In a few days, the doors of the metro will open at night during WYD, to serve as a shelter for pilgrims, but not for those who daily ask the state or the church for social support and decent housing,” the manifesto also points out.
During and after the reading of the document, the demonstrators also shouted some slogans, such as: “down with the Pope, out with the concordat” and “for the Pope it’s millions, for the people it’s pennies”.
Lusa tried to speak to some of the organizers of the protest, which was called through social networks, who said they did not want to make statements.
Sara, 25, was one of the hundreds of people who decided to head to Martim Moniz, arguing that this protest was not only called “because of the abused children, who are many, but also because of the Portuguese discontent for all the money spent on this event, paid by taxpayers”.
“It’s transportation, there are no houses, there is nothing and suddenly the state can provide an event of this size. And I think that doesn’t make sense, since the Portuguese are not getting help for anything,” he told Lusa.
Maria, 25, also felt that the country should not “waste so many millions on advertising a faith”.
“We have nothing against faith, but this is too much. We really want the Portuguese to feel supported,” he added.
A few meters away from the protesters, in Martim Moniz Square, pilgrims await the first Catholic influencers’ festival, scheduled to start at 21:00.
AJMJ is considered the biggest event of the Catholic Church, which is attended by Pope Francis.
The journey is estimated to cost around €160 million.
Three posters will remember the 4800 children abused by the Church