6th of August 2023
Antonio Pinheiro Torres, vice-president of the Federação Portuguesa pela Vida, a member of the One of Us Federation, meet yesterday with Pope Francis during the World Youth Day, together with six children that life at the Ajuda de Berço (Cradle Help) life centre and 19 other volunteers, association board members and employees. The meeting took place on Friday 4th August as one of the activities of the 38th World Youth Day in Lisbon, presenting three important social initiatives helping people concretely in Lisbon.
While the One of Us federation is not a religious organization, the World Youth Day in Lisbon is an important opportunity to meet with 2 million young people interested in learning more about the message of universal human dignity that One of Us defends. Many young people has participated in the activities that has been organised by the One of Us federation as well as by its Portuguese member the Federação Portuguesa pela Vida.
The One of Us Federation has curated an exhibition about “Heroes for Life” showing many great historical people that has sacrificed a lot for defense of the Truth, the Beauty and the Good that exist in every Human person. Also a biographical movie about the life of Jérôme Lejeune was screened in an historical theater of Lisbon for the World Youth Day pilgrims.
The member organisations of the One of Us federation has also prepared many activities like an information stand about fertility care as well as an information booth about the organization “Apoio a Vida” but the most relevant of the activities of the One of Us federation at the World Youth Day was the meeting of Antonio Pinheiro Torres with Pope Francis and the ecclesial and political authorities of Portugal were he could explain the work of Ajuda de Berço an organization helping women with their difficulties during their pregnancies and after.
The purpose of Ajuda de Berço is to give hospitality to abandoned children and support their families. Since 1998, they have hosted 452 children. And every year the help around 300 women and families.
“Pray for us Holly Father: for all of us that in Portugal are engaged on defending life from conception until natural death, for these children that have been entrusted to us so that they find a family that receives them” explains Antonio Pinheiro Torres.
The fact that Pope Francis has receive this association, member of the One of Us federation, is an acknowledgement of the work that they do which similar to many other members of the One of Us federation in other European countries. Helping pregnant women with their problems and sufferings to have their babies in the best possible conditions.
The One of Us Federation makes its own the gospel that WYD has chosen for 4 August taken from Luke (Lk 2:15-20), confirming its mission, and that of the various Centres and Movements for Life around the world: to be a means for all people, “from generation to generation”, to contemplate a birth and a family and be happy.
About One of Us:
One of Us is a European Federation form by more than fifty pro-life NGOs in Europe, steadfastly pursuing the mission of protecting the right to life in Europe. ONE OF US stands as the most successful European Citizens’ Initiative to date with more than 1,7 million signatory EU citizens, surpassing all other initiatives since the beginning of this innovative instrument of participatory democracy that was stablish with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.
European Media Contact:
Moutiaa G FLINOIS
+33652920746
Portugues Media Contact:
Antonio Pinheiro Torres
+351 917 233 335
