ULusófona Faculty of Law Takes Part in Tribute to Aristides de Sousa Mendes

On 17 June, the “Day of Conscience” was celebrated in honour of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. The Faculty of Law of ULusófona was represented at this initiative dedicated to commemorating the life and legacy of the Portuguese diplomat.

The ceremony took place at the Ordem Terceira Hospital, where Aristides de Sousa Mendes passed away on 5 April 1954, and included a mass that filled the institution’s chapel.

This was followed by speeches from Dr Carlos Sousa Mendes, President of the Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation, Dr António Moncada de Sousa Mendes, author of one of the most respected works on the diplomat, and Dr Ana Margarida Mascarenhas, great-granddaughter of Aristides de Sousa Mendes and member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

One of the most moving moments of the ceremony was the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by two great-great-grandchildren. The plaque, placed at the main entrance of the hospital, marks the diplomat’s stay and death at the institution.

The tribute concluded with a group photograph bringing together family members and representatives of the participating organisations, in recognition of the legacy of a man whose courage, conscience and humanitarian values left a lasting mark on history.