The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, received the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, at São Bento, where he expressed gratitude for the “condolences for the victims of the accident at the Elevador da Glória.”
Pietro Parolin has been visiting Portugal since Friday and was present yesterday at Calçada da Glória in Lisbon, where he conducted prayers and paid tribute to the accident’s victims.
“I received the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on his visit to Portugal to celebrate the jubilee of the authorities,” Luís Montenegro wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “We discussed the relations between Portugal and the Holy See. We exchanged views on the conflicts that are troubling the world and the urgent need to pave paths to peace.”
Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Vatican Secretary of State is scheduled to be received this Sunday by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the Belém Palace.
Recebi o Secretário de Estado da Santa Sé, Cardeal Pietro Parolin, na sua visita a Portugal para celebrar o jubileu das autoridades. Agradeci as condolências pelas vítimas do acidente no Elevador da Glória. Abordámos as relações de Portugal com a Santa Sé. Trocámos impressões… pic.twitter.com/2HHqWJhCqd
— Luís Montenegro (@LMontenegro_PT) September 14, 2025
On Saturday, accompanied by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Valério, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, Parolin recited the ‘Our Father’ and ‘Hail Mary’ prayers in front of dozens who gathered to join the moment at Calçada da Glória.
The prayer took place at the site of the September 3 accident, where flowers, stuffed animals, and letters with emotional messages have been placed by locals.
At the end, Parolin exchanged brief words with Rui Valério, Carlos Moedas, and citizens who approached him.
The Elevador da Glória, one of Lisbon’s historic funiculars managed by the municipal company Carris, derailed on September 3, resulting in 16 deaths and around 20 injuries.
