The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, joined the Loulé community to celebrate the Feast of the Sovereign Mother.
The Great Feast of the Sovereign Mother, the largest religious event south of Fátima, took place this Sunday and featured a very special guest. The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, wished to come to Loulé to bear witness to his faith and selflessness in the patron saint, Our Lady of Mercy, and was an integral part of the procession that carried the image back to its hermitage.
It was around 4:00 pm when the Head of State arrived at Largo do Monumento Engº Duarte Pacheco to attend the open-air mass, presided over by the Bishop of the Algarve, D. Manuel Quintas.
A brief stop at the City Hall followed, for a formal reception and a chat with journalists. "I'll go all the way! It was an irresistible suggestion from the Mayor, so I'll join in, and I think I'll feel more intensely the centuries-old popular support. It's impressive! I'll probably finish behind... But as long as the red lantern finishes, even if it's one of the last, the idea is to finish!" said the President of the Republic.
Accompanied by the municipal executive, State Councilor Lídia Jorge, and Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Grança Carvalho, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa walked down Praça da República to the Church of St. Francis. He was closely followed by the locals, surprised to be standing shoulder to shoulder with the Head of State.
From there, he followed the Marian route in what is the grand procession, right behind the statue of the Sovereign Mother. Amidst the crowd, amidst chants of "Long live the Sovereign Mother! Long live the Men of the Statue!", the President climbed the steep hill at a brisk pace "imposed" by the Minerva Artists' Society Philharmonic Band. Tired but happy, and with a sense of duty fulfilled, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa arrived at the sanctuary to take the image of the patron saint back to its "home."
It was an emotional day for Loulé and the people of Loulé, who welcomed the highest-ranking figure of the State to their largest religious festival. "A happy day, with an added joy for all Loulé residents: having the President of the Republic witness, testify, and experience what is the festival of the soul of the people of Loulé," said Mayor Vítor Aleixo. Despite the threat of rain throughout the day, thousands of faithful and tourists flocked to Loulé to participate in this festival, which is already one of the Algarve's main tourist attractions. This manifestation of faith has two distinct aspects: the religious, in its truest sense, and the secular, in its broadest and most liberal expression.
