Lisbon, Portugal – Bordalo II, a renowned Portuguese street artist known for his striking animal sculptures crafted from recycled materials to advocate against climate change, has taken his art to a new level of protest. In opposition to the staggering cost of Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Portugal, Bordalo II has created an eye-catching installation made of giant blown-up €500 notes, predominantly pink in color. The installation, named “The Walk of Shame,” has been placed at the venue in Lisbon where the pope is scheduled to lead a mass next week as part of the World Youth Day celebrations.
The papal visit, estimated to incur a total cost of €161 million ($177 million), will be financed by a collaboration between the Portuguese government, the city councils of Lisbon and neighboring Loures, and the Catholic Church, with the government’s contribution amounting to around €30 million ($33 million). This significant allocation of public funds to facilitate a religious ceremony has sparked controversy and led Bordalo II to use his art as a medium to voice his opposition.
Taking to Instagram, Bordalo II expressed his discontent, denouncing the use of public funds for the lavish event, especially in a secular state where many citizens grapple with the challenges of housing, employment, and preserving their dignity. He further criticized the decision to invest millions in sponsoring the Italian multinational tour, questioning the government’s spending priorities during these pressing times.
The Portuguese street artist is not the sole public figure to raise concerns about the extravagant expenses surrounding the papal visit. Earlier this year, Lisbon’s Mayor, Carlos Moedas, faced backlash on social media for allocating €5 million for an altar to be used during the Sunday mass. The backlash eventually compelled the city council to reduce the cost of the altar to €2.9 million.
Reports by the National Institute of Statistics revealed that rent prices in Lisbon have soared by a staggering 53 percent since 2017, exacerbating the ongoing housing crisis in the city. Additionally, more than half of the city’s workforce struggles to make ends meet on meager monthly incomes of less than €1,000. This alarming disparity in financial priorities has drawn strong criticism from various quarters, including Fabian Figueiredo from the Left Bloc party, who pointed out that allocating funds to tackle the housing crisis should take precedence over hosting extravagant events.
In response to the artist’s unique protest, Mayor Carlos Moedas defended Bordalo II’s right to express his concerns through his art, acknowledging that such forms of protest are normal for major events like the papal visit.
As the installation continues to draw attention, both the Portuguese government and the Catholic Church face growing pressure to address the issue of extravagant spending on religious events, particularly amid the prevailing economic challenges faced by many citizens. Bordalo II’s thought-provoking artwork serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible allocation of public funds, sparking conversations about financial priorities and social responsibility.