José Manuel Bolieiro praises Camões' legacy at commemorative session in Horta - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, chaired the second session of the commemorative cycle marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of Luís Vaz de Camões, which took place on Tuesday at the Horta City Hall.

Promoted by the Horta City Council, in collaboration with the Azores Delegation of the Historical Society of the Independence of Portugal (SHIP), this session was part of the national celebrations of the fifth centenary of the birth of the author of "Os Lusíadas," the most iconic work of Portuguese literature and the cultural expression of a people shaped by maritime adventure.

The head of the Azorean Government underlined the importance of Camões as one of the key figures of Portuguese culture, whose work transcends borders and eras.

"Camões is not just a poet from the past. He is an author who transcends the boundaries of time, geography and generations. His voice remains alive as he speaks of us, what we were, what we are and what we can be," he said.

Alluding to the maritime theme that runs through "Os Lusíadas," the President of the Regional Government evoked the sea as an inseparable element of national identity.

"This inspiration reminds us that the sea is our very identity," he highlighted.

The President of the Government added that the historical events narrated in Camões' epic poem, centred on courage and discovery, continue to echo in today's challenges, particularly in the way the Azores assume their position in the Atlantic.

In this regard, he highlighted the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Azores, emphasising the archipelago's role as a central axis in the Atlantic projection of Portugal and the European Union.

"The Azores are now a platform for knowledge, security, and sustainability. Our island position has become strategically central at a time of new global challenges," emphasised the President of the Government.

José Manuel Bolieiro also highlighted the importance of the Azores in Portugal's maritime dimension, pointing out the Regional Government's efforts to protect and sustainably develop the sea as a source of life, identity and international projection.

"We live responsibly with the sea. We are heirs to an epic that requires us to have a vision for the future and a commitment to the values of humanity and nature," he said.

The session featured a presentation by Professor Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa, representative of SHIP in the Azores, and a lecture by Professor Carlos Reis, a renowned academic and scholar of Camões' work, on the theme “The world of Os Lusíadas: Figures and Meanings.”

In his presentation, Carlos Reis emphasised that "Os Lusíadas is a work about Portuguese identity," a reflection of a historical period but also a key to understanding the construction of the national imagination.

The moment was even more special with a musical performance by the Horta Regional Conservatory Wind Ensemble, which gave the audience a chance to enjoy a moment of artistic contemplation, adding to the ceremony's uplifting and solemn atmosphere.

The session was attended by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, the Mayor of Horta, Carlos Ferreira, and various entities linked to the academic, institutional and cultural life of the Region.

More than a tribute to an author, this meeting was a recognition of the continuing power of Camões' words in shaping Portuguese identity in the Azores, Portugal and the world.