Almost one year has passed since the tragic fires that ravaged our land and destroyed the Chapel of Our Lady of Affliction. I cannot help but look back and recall the early morning of September 18^th, when from this very place all that could be seen were flames.

Branzelo and Melres were authentic infernos.

In the days that followed, as the damages were counted, the question was: how can we recover the chapel?

But soon a light appeared at the end of the tunnel and on October 25th, at around 9:30 a.m., I received a call from the Mayor, asking me for a brief historical account of the chapel, because around noon he would have a meeting, and the Chapel restoration was on the agenda.

On November 13th, we received the visit of the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat, Comendador Nazim Ahmad and a delegation, the President and Vice-President of the Municipality of Gondomar, the President of CCDRN, Dr António Cunha, Mrs Elvira Duarte and myself.

That day, without a doubt, was the laying of the first stone of the reconstruction of the Chapel of Our Lady of Affliction.

Afterwards, many meetings were held, many hours spent debating strategies and fine-tuning details, so that everything could be completed in due time and so that today the Feast of Our Lady of Affliction could be celebrated with a fully renovated and reconstructed Chapel, and a clean outdoor space and ready for requalification.

What I have to say is very simple: on behalf of our community, thank you… thank you… thank you to all those involved in this process. I express a deepest feeling of gratitude and recognition to the Aga Khan Foundation and to Ambassador Comendador Nazim Ahmad. His role was absolutely crucial for the success of this work. His personal commitment was, for us, contagious.

There is one detail I would like to recall: during that first visit here, on November 13th last year, in the conversation we had, someone said that if the fire had been 15 days earlier, the feast would not have taken place. Comendador Nazim immediately asked, “On what day is the feast held?” When we told him it was on the first Sunday of September, he firmly stated: “Then the Chapel must be rebuilt by the day of the feast.”

And as you can see, the Chapel is as good as new.

Many people have asked me what leads an institution, of a different religion from ours, to rebuild a Catholic church. Well, what I say is that in every religion there are good people, people who like to do good, who are willing to help without thinking or caring who is on the other side.

In fact, in conversation with Comendador Nazim, he has shared about the projects developed with the Catholic Church in Portugal, for decades.

The presence of a religious institution from the Islamic world, led by His Highness the Aga Khan and supported by development agencies that serve people and communities worldwide, serves as a powerful reminder of the shared roots of the Abrahamic faiths and our common humanity.

And the olive tree standing there, which resisted the fire, is without doubt, the true symbol of peace and I am certain, that this place of worship, dedicated to Our Lady of Affliction, will from now on also be a place of dialogue between different religions and cultures, framed in a stunning landscape that calls us for meditation, reflection and the rediscovery of our deepest essence: peace, harmony and the healthy coexistence of all, regardless of differences or beliefs.

May this example we live here today be a light that shines upon humanity and its political leaders.

I also want to extend a special thanks to those who were on the ground and executed this project: Dr Susana Ramos, Dr Filomena Santos, architect Rui Correia, engineers Helena, Jorge and Tozé, and the collaborators of the company Belmiro Cunha Gomes & Filhos, who worked on the Chapel. You were exceptional. I am certain this was a work that filled you with pride. To Casa de Fânzeres – Arte Sacra, the company that built the main altar and the other religious elements, and to all those who, in general, gave their best to this project.

Many thanks to all.

To conclude, let me share an image I will keep forever, which clearly illustrates the emotion and sentiment surrounding this process.

On November 13th, during our farewells, Comendador Nazim comforted Mrs Elvira, telling her to be at peace, that everything would be fine. That moment, sealed with a strong embrace and with Mrs Elvira in tears, was unforgettable.

It was a defining moment and Mrs Elvira, as we can now see, those words of Comendador Nazim were a prophecy.

Everything went very well!

Thank you.