Pope Francis honored Lisbon City Hall workers for their work at WYD

"Thank you, Lisbon". Reading the Pope's message, Ivo Scappolo thanked "everyone for their service, which lives on in the hymn of gratitude he raises to heaven every day". For months, "with commitment, they managed to prepare the city to receive the light of those young people who have made Lisbon the capital of the world and of the future", he stressed.

"May God continue to reward them, as he did during the day, by bringing a glow of joy to every face and leaving a trail of hope in every street." The Holy Father," concluded his representative, "implores an abundance of God's blessings on everyone.

At the ceremony, in Praça do Município, the heads of the municipal services received, on behalf of each of the 6,000 workers involved, the medals that distinguish the "outstanding" work coordinated by David Lopes, head of mission of the Lisbon City Council, for WYD.

It was "a wise choice, and half success was guaranteed on this occasion", said the vice-president of CML, Anacoreta Correia, after receiving the award of Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester from Ivo Scappolo. The subsequent work "was possible thanks to the commitment of the councillors, municipal leaders and commanders of the fire department and municipal police, as well as the involvement of the entire municipal universe", he said.

It was a "remarkable job, getting everything done on time, under budget", ensuring that "the cost was an investment in the city and its future", concluded Anacoreta Correia.

For Carlos Moedas, president of the Lisbon City Council, the "biggest event ever in Lisbon" proves that "after that week Lisbon is ready" for any challenge: "We worked together for the whole city with a single goal: to make Lisbon the capital of the world."

In his speech, the mayor thanked Patriarch Manuel Clemente, Cardinal Américo Aguiar, Alexandre Palma, president of WYD, António Lamas, David Lopes, Laurinda Alves, former city councillor, among others, for the success of WYD, which welcomed one and a half million people to Lisbon in August last year.

More than 10,000 jobs in Lisbon, a return of 290 million euros in the Lisbon region alone, is a legacy of WYD, recognized by the Pope as the best day ever, said Carlos Moedas.

At the end of the ceremony, the fado singer Carminho performed the song she sang at the vigil with Pope Francis in 2023, on the altar-palace of Parque Tejo.