Ourém defends respect for religious practices in the sanctuary cities

O mayor of Ourém, Luís Albuquerque, said today that preserving the identity of the sanctuary cities requires respect for religious practices, but also attention to residents, so that tourism can enhance their quality of life.

“Faith continues to motivate many who visit us. Preserving the identity of these places requires respect for religious practices, the gathering and the meaning that each person attributes to their presence ", said Luís Albuquerque.

The mayor spoke at the opening of the conference “Sacred places, shared futures”, which marks three decades of cooperation from one of the oldest European networks of Marian pilgrimage destinations, which brings together Altötting (Germany), Czestochowa (Poland), Einsiedeln (Switzerland), Fatima/Ourem (Portugal), Loreto (Italy), Lourdes (France) and Mariazell (Austria).

The formalisation of this network took place in 2020 with the establishment of the Shrines of Europe – Association of European Sanctuary Cities, with work under way to be recognised as the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Luís Albuquerque, who also presides over ‘Shrines of Europe’, observed that for municipalities the responsibility to receive “translates into day-to-day decisions” and “welcome well requires safe and accessible routes, clear information and services prepared for different needs”.

“It requires, above all, attention to those who live and work in our cities, so that tourism contributes to their quality of life”, he maintained, recognizing the importance of religious tourism for the employment and economy of the territories with shrines.

For the mayor, the development of this tourism “should help to take care of the heritage and create opportunities for communities”.

The participants, about 200, recalled that the Sanctuary cities “know the value of faith in the lives of many people and the importance of respecting those who have other convictions”.

“ This respect must be recognized in the way we welcome, how we dialogue and how we work together ", defended the president of that municipality of the district of Santarém, sustaining that this is also how we contribute to peace.

About Fatima, the largest Marian shrine in the country, he said that “there are those who come to thank, fulfill promises or simply seek some peace and comfort”.

“Others come to know the history and heritage of this place. It is up to us all to receive the same attention,” Luís Albuquerque stressed, to point out that this attention “depends on many people”, from those who receive it in the sanctuaries, from volunteers, from hotel workers, trade and restoration or from those who care for public spaces, a “so often discreet job that gives meaning to reception” in the sanctuary cities.

The Vice President of Tourism of the Anabela Freitas Center said that “a shrine, regardless of the motivations” of those who seek it, “is always a place of spirituality”, but that “can also be used as a source of development and investment” of the territories.

“ The sanctuaries bring people, give experiences, meet with ourselves, but we will also know what is the culture, identity and authenticity of the surrounding territories ", said Anabela Freitas, who highlighted the importance of Fatima in religious tourism.

For the Tourism of the Center, what is intended “is that the tourist can come back”, but to return has to “have a good experience”.

On the path developed by the seven Sanctuary cities, he stressed that “it is under European values”.

“ I think it is important today that we affirm what our values are, respecting, of course, other values, but we are Europeans,” she added.

The event culminates on Friday with a guided tour of the Shrine of Fatima, an excursion to the Medieval Village of Ourém and the opening of an exhibition.