This afternoon, the Mayor of Cascais visited some spaces that will host great moments – of different natures – during the week of World Youth Day. In addition to the 60,000 pilgrims who will spend the night in the municipality, there will be days when Cascais expects more than 200,000 visitors, in particular, on the day of the visit of Pope Francis, August 3rd.
A major exponent at the WYD in Cascais, the Estoril Congress Center (CCE) will bring together multiple municipal teams. The Welcome Center for pilgrims is also located here, 24 hours a day, where the Pilgrim Health Center will also operate. In Alcabideche, C3 – Centro Logístico de Cascais – is one of the major operational hubs during WYD, where the pilgrim kits are being prepared and, also, where the mural that Cascais prepared to receive the Holy Father is being completed. To ensure everyone's entertainment and fun, the municipality also has prayer and leisure areas in the Estoril Casino Gardens, Manuel Possolo Hippodrome and Marechal Carmona Park.
Estoril Congress Center (CCE)
The Estoril Congress Center will become the core operational hub of the World Youth Day in Cascais. Here, the Welcome Center for pilgrims is allocated, an organization that is intended to contact pilgrims for support and information, open and available 24 hours a day.
It will be the 'home' of the new Espaço Saúde do Peregrino, open 24 hours a day, for possible minor emergencies. This space is a precaution against accidents, and will be accessible to all, as it has access ramps and an independent entrance for this purpose. This medical center has several medical offices that will be open for the duration of the Day.
In addition to supporting pilgrims, there will also be multiple teams – municipal and external – working together at the CCE. “We have created conditions for us to be autonomous and perfectly coordinated”, assured the President of the municipality, since, through constant contact, all the teams that are committed to making WYD a successful moment are able to ensure a better response capacity, through cooperation .
Cascais Logistics Center (C3)
Throughout its existence, the Cascais Logistics Center (C3) has been the logistical stage for various events and events. From solidarity collections to blood donations, this warehouse has already contributed to a little bit of everything. In the case of World Youth Day, it could not be otherwise, with C3 becoming one of the most important logistical hubs at this time.
Here, the hand-painted mural that will welcome Pope Francis to Cascais, on the 3rd of August, was and continues to be mounted. This mural, which, with about 3 kilometers, places Cascais as a world record holder, had the collaboration of thousands of people from Cascais, from students, associations of different natures, prisoners, IPPS, among many others.
C3 also continues to be a laboratory for the production of pilgrim kits with t-shirts, caps, ribbons and recyclable water bottles. This large production has a deadline for the 31st of July, the day on which most pilgrims arrive, especially the approximately 35,000 Spanish pilgrims who travel to Cascais on Monday.
For Carlos Carreiras, mayor of Cascais, this is a big (and complex) operation. “We are ready and we will be ready, with the certainty that we will need quick decisions and having the ability to manage, a great national asset”, he said.
In addition to this kit, all pilgrims will have access to a Viver Cascais card, not only to use public road transport in the municipality, but also to a multitude of other services. All these benefits are explained in the Cascais bulletin, Jornal C, which all pilgrims will have access to.
C3, a multipurpose center, welcomed pilgrims and Jesuit volunteers, who help with logistical support, but will also become, during the WYD, the 'home' of all INEM - National Institute of Medical Emergencies - professionals, displaced from all over the country , in order to respond to medical emergencies during WYD.
Leisure zones at WYD
To ensure everyone's entertainment and leisure activities, the municipality also has leisure areas at various different points. In the Casino Gardens, concerts and 'Rise up' moments will take place, where pilgrims start the day talking to bishops from various countries and discuss ideas for a better future, ending these morning meetings with a mass. It is also here that, on the 31st of July, Cascais will receive the Spanish Episcopal Conference (about 35 thousand Spanish pilgrims), with various activities, from religious moments to a music festival.
“Baixa de Cascais will be linked with great intensity to the Journey”, said Carlos Carreiras. The Manuel Possolo Hippodrome will host the WYD Cascais Festival, where there will be concerts from the 31st of July to the 3rd of August, at 7.30 pm and 9.00 pm for the entire pilgrim community and all citizens who want to join the celebration of the WYD. In Cascais Bay, the Palco Jovem is already in operation, for the enjoyment of all pilgrims and young talents, as well as one of six food courts with a wide range of street food concepts.
Near the Cidadela, there were giant screens to broadcast the arrival of Pope Francis to Cascais, for the majority of the population who will not be able to attend the Scholas Occurentes.
Between the 1st and 6th of August, thousands of young people from all over the world will be in Lisbon to participate in this great youth festival, a moment of union, sharing of experiences, celebration of life and faith.
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