Government suspends April 25 festivities to mourn Pope
This year’s confluence of events has placed public mourning for the head of the Catholic Church in direct tension with the celebration of Portugal’s own democratic milestone.
In an unprecedented move, the Government postponed all official festivities marking the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, citing three days of national mourning declared after the death of Pope Francis.
Under the mourning decree, public flags are to be flown at half-mast, and authorities are instructed to exercise “restraint in celebrations.”
Consequently, the traditional opening of the prime minister’s official residence gardens on April 25, normally featuring live music and public gatherings, has been rescheduled for 1 May, Labour Day.
“Out of respect for the late Pope, we must temper our festivities,” Leitão Amaro said, without specifying which other municipal or regional events might be similarly affected.
The Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro confirmed the decision on Wednesday following a Council of Ministers session.
Reactions
Opposition leaders wasted no time voicing their disapproval. Socialist Party secretary-general Pedro Nuno Santos argued that commemorating the revolution’s democratic values does not conflict with mourning the pontiff.
“Pope Francis himself championed freedom and equality—core tenets of 25 April,” Santos told Lusa news agency. “Canceling these celebrations misunderstands both the Pope’s legacy and the Portuguese spirit.”
Rui Tavares, spokesperson for the left-wing Livre party, described the government’s decision as “a singular lack of respect for democracy and the April Revolution.”
He urged citizens to attend grassroots commemorations nationwide, especially the main Lisbon march along Avenida da Liberdade, to underscore popular support for democratic freedoms.
Veteran military officer and 25 April veteran Vasco Lourenço also weighed in, calling the postponement “an insult to the memory of those who fought for liberty.”
Speaking to Antena 1 radio, Lourenço noted that the national assembly, the revolution’s symbolic hearth, will still hold its solemn session, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in the government’s approach.
Historically, Portugal has observed moments of national mourning, most recently after the deaths of prominent political figures, without suspending 25 April commemorations.
Democratic milestone
April 25, 1975, holds a special place in Portuguese history as the date of the nation’s first free, universal-suffrage elections following the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974.
Exactly one year after the overthrow of the Estado Novo dictatorship, Portuguese citizens elected a 250-member Constituent Assembly charged with drafting the 1976 Constitution and laying the foundations for the Third Republic.
What makes the 1975 vote particularly remarkable is its unprecedented turnout: 5,711,829 ballots were cast, representing 91.66% of registered voters—the highest participation rate ever recorded in Portugal’s democratic experience.
This extraordinary level of engagement reflected widespread enthusiasm for shaping a new, pluralistic political order after nearly half a century of authoritarian rule - something that was not immediately obvious after the revolution.
The election also democratized political life by enabling parties that had been banned, communists, socialists, and conservatives alike, to compete openly, and by including women and former political prisoners in the electoral process for the first time.
As a result, April 25, 1975, is celebrated not only as the anniversary of Portugal’s peaceful revolution but as the moment when its people seized control of their political destiny.
I’m from the U.S. but now live in Portugal and really appreciate the deep context you’ve provided about today’s significance. Thank you so much.