Fr. Omar Sánchez Portillo, known for his charity work in Peru, shared on his social profiles a unique photo from World Youth Day in Lisbon. In his opinion, "it reflects what the Church is."
APeruvian priest accompanied a group of 30 young people from the diocese of Lurín to Lisbon. In the photo he published, a young man in a wheelchair is seen being lifted by his companions during a vigil in the Field of Grace on Saturday evening (August 5). The meeting, presided over by Pope Francis, gathered 1.5 million pilgrims in this place.
Fr. Portillo emphasized in his entry that World Youth Day in Lisbon is "an experience of catholicity (universality), joy, hope and love." “For me, this photo reflects what the Church is. Thank you God for this opportunity, help me to be a witness of your love and hope.
Brotherly help
The boy in the picture is named Lourenço. In an interview with ACI Prensa, Fr. Portillo revealed that the 23-year-old Brazilian has cerebral palsy. The group members who accompanied him at the vigil wanted to pick him up because "there was a concert and he loves music." However, they were not able to do it alone - it was only possible with the help of a few other people.
This situation brings to mind a similar incident during WYD in Panama (2019), when a group of young people lifted Lucas, a 17-year-old boy in a wheelchair, to see Pope Francis at the airport in Tocumen.
"I love my Catholic Church"
Fr. Omar Sánchez Portillo runs the Association of Blessings (Asociación de las Bienaventuranzas) in Peru, which takes care of people abandoned because of illness or special educational needs. Summing up the amazing story from Lisbon, the priest said: "I love my Catholic Church, I love you Jesus, long live Christ the King, long live the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Source: Facebook, ACI Prensa , asociacionbienaventuranzas.org.pe