President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke to journalists outside the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Lisbon, where he signed the book of condolences for the death of Pope Francis today.
The head of state expressed that the next Pope should embody attributes of openness, availability, concern for the impoverished and exploited, peace, and non-discrimination, which characterized Pope Francis, and continue this legacy.
When asked if he hopes this message will resonate with political leaders, the President replied, mentioning a “unique opportunity” that arose from Pope Francis’ meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday.
“For those who believe, nothing is by chance. Meeting the American Vice President the day before his death, even in his state of health, could, who knows, have positive effects. One never knows,” considered Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
During his remarks to the journalists, the head of state discussed Portugal’s “grateful and heartfelt tribute” message to the Pope expressed in the condolence book at the Apostolic Nunciature, highlighting Pope Francis’ relationship with Portugal and Fatima.
The President noted, “He enjoyed getting to know Portugal, he didn’t know Portugal, he wasn’t initially drawn to the message of Fatima.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recounted that they discussed this during his visit to the Vatican in March 2016, at the beginning of his first presidential term, when he extended the Pope an invitation to visit Fatima.
“He confessed to me that he did not know the reality of Fatima well. And when he stepped off the plane [upon arriving in Portugal in May 2017] for the first time, he said: I have not yet been won over by Fatima’s message. The next day, when he departed, he told me: I am won over, you were right,” he narrated.
Rebelo de Sousa explained that “the decisive moment for him to be won over” by Fatima was when he traversed, what is uncommon for a Pope, the crowded premises from one end to the other, as he had to stay overnight at a convent of sisters located at the further end.
“It was at that moment, as such moments exist, that he said: I began to understand the universal strength of Fatima and started to understand Portugal. And from then on, he never stopped,” he added.
The head of state expressed that “the entire country—Catholics, non-Catholics, those with other beliefs, atheists, agnostics—was touched by essential facets of Pope Francis’ journey,” which “said something to each Portuguese at some point during his very challenging, 12-year-long pontificate.”
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the successor to Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013.
Upon taking the name Francis I, he became the first Jesuit Pope and the first South American to lead the Catholic Church.
