Cycle-pedestrian bridge over River Trancão inaugurated
The cycle-pedestrian bridge over the River Trancão was inaugurated on 6 July at Campo da Graça (Parque Tejo), linking the municipalities of Loures and Lisbon. According to Manuel Clemente, Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon, this bridge symbolises the "dream of uniting generations".
©Ana Luísa Alvim / CML
For the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon, this is also a tribute to Pope Francis, as a man who builds bridges "on all frontiers of humanity" and as a "true pontiff", he emphasised.
The Presidents of the Municipalities of Loures and Lisbon also attended the inauguration, as a sign of the union of the two municipalities in the realisation of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023.
©Ana Luísa Alvim / CML
Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, considered the result of the new bridge "absolutely magnificent" and emphasised that "no one will be indifferent". He also recalled the legacy that WYD Lisbon 2023 will leave to the Portuguese. What was once "a dump" is now "60 kilometres of riverfront".
He also took the opportunity to recall that the city "and all of us will be different after 6 August", because as Pope Francis says "those who go through WYD come out different".
The President of Loures, Ricardo Leão, emphasised that the space "as it is today" is due "to this great event that will be World Youth Day Lisbon 2023", and that "without it this project would not be possible".
Pope Francis will be in Campo da Graça to celebrate the Vigil on 5 August and the Sending Mass on 6 August, together with young people from all over the world participating in WYD Lisbon 2023. Find out more about what will happen from 1 to 6 August here.