The 11th edition of the Clergy Symposium of Portugal takes place in Fátima, at the Paulo VI Center, between August 31 and September 3, 2026, with the central theme "Brothers in the Priesthood and Witnesses of the Gospel." The event began with the opening session at 3:30 PM, followed by the presentation of results from an anonymous survey titled "Challenges of Priestly Life in Portugal," to which participants were invited to respond.
The survey, in addition to collecting sociodemographic data, addresses questions about the emotional, spiritual, and psychological care of each priest, aiming for reflection on the psycho-spiritual integration in the life and exercise of the pastoral ministry. At the opening session, the presence of Mgr. Vitorino Soares, president of CEVM, Mgr. Virgílio Antunes, president of CEP, and Mgr. Andrés Carrascosa Coso, Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal, was noted.
The symposium program includes four main conferences: "Paths of Integration of Spiritual and Pastoral Life," "Priestly Fraternity: A Redeeming Challenge," "Paths for Accompaniment and Care of People," and "Evangelizing Mission and Cultural and Digital Challenges in the Current Context." These conferences are complemented by assembly sessions of study groups organized by ecclesiastical provinces, seminary times, and interdiocesan groups.
The symposium also includes celebrations with Vespers at the Chapel of the Death of Jesus, and is scheduled to conclude on September 3 with a synthesis of the assemblies and the closing ceremony led by Mgr. Vitorino Soares, followed by a Eucharist with the delivery of participation certificates.
