This group made up of 106 pilgrims of Cape Verdean and Angolan nationality was "duly registered" in the World Youth Day (WYD) and entered "regularly and by air into national territory", highlighted the Internal Security System, in a statement.
However, these pilgrims did not carry out the 'check-in' in the diocese of Leiria-Fátima, as planned, he added.
According to the note, because the citizens entered Portugal "legally and with a valid visa in the Schengen area" it is not considered "for legal purposes, that the group is missing".
Despite this circumstance, the Internal Security System said that "the competent monitoring measures are being taken by the authorities involved, both at national and international level".
The organization of the WYD told Lusa this Monday that it was monitoring the "non-attendance" of these pilgrims from Angola and Cape Verde in the diocese of Leiria-Fátima, and the situation was reported to the security authorities.
In a statement released this Monday, the diocese of Leiria-Fátima had revealed "an abnormal situation that required special attention on the part of the diocesan organization" due to the "absence of 106 pilgrims from foreign groups of Angolan and Cape Verdean nationality welcomed in three parishes of the diocese".
The diocese added that "as soon as these no-shows were flagged, the organization reported them to the competent security authorities, who have since taken the required and necessary steps".
"The organization is monitoring the situation, which it has reported to the authorities", a WYD source told Lusa.
Contacted by Lusa, a source from the PSP indicated that this is a group of pilgrims "who did not reach the planned destination", that is, the diocese of Leiria-Fátima.
A source from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) told Lusa that this organization was not contacted and that the 106 pilgrims are not in an irregular situation, since they have a valid short-term visa, for three months, so they can circulate in the Schengen area.
In turn, a GNR source told Lusa that this security force was not contacted, but is "in conjunction" with the Internal Security System.
Contacted by Lusa, sources at the Angolan and Cape Verdean embassies in Lisbon indicated that they were unaware of the situation, since the movement of these pilgrims is framed by the churches.
At least 1518 Angolans, residing in Angola and in the diaspora, signed up to participate in WYD Lisbon 2023 and 518 pilgrims are expected to embark from Luanda for this meeting with Pope Francis. From Cape Verde, a total of 913 Cape Verdeans are expected to participate, including religious.
The main initiatives of the day will take place in Parque Eduardo VII, in the Belém area and in Parque Tejo, an enclosure of around 100 hectares to the north of Parque das Nações and on land in the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures.
