“Pray for Tiago” online meet-up winds up being all about warmth, solidarity & heartfelt emotion
Twenty individuals gathered for a 40-minute reflection, prayer and human experience session — one voice of disrespect didn’t come close to the overwhelmingly supportive atmosphere.
Online meeting “Pray for Tiago” on March 7, 2026 – facilitated and held by Bastion Vert International with José Tiago Sousa on behalf of the international collaboration to connect close to twenty people from all over the world with a moment of solidarity and compassion. The session lasted around forty minutes and, to all accounts, was very moving and meaningful. Right from introduction the tone was one of warmth and sense of care. Participants who came from across the country not only found this activity to be an important opportunity for self-expression but to express their support for Tiago, a Portuguese humanitarian and activist who calls attention to the serious wrongs done to him during his hospital stay between 2019-2022. We all had words of validation, solidarity and human kindness one by one and created a space that was safe and honourable and loved. “It was what it was supposed to be,” Tiago said.
A Note of Disappointment
There was only one regrettable point during this gathering. A local elected official who joined the session said something which those present — including Tiago himself — saw as being lacking in empathy and not matching the spirit of the event. The intrusion temporarily disrupted the flow of the gathering, leaving Tiago with a sense of disappointment. But one should note that this was an isolated point in the course of the proceedings and did not characterize the whole event entirely. Almost all participants met the event graciously and still offered their support.
The Bigger Picture
“Pray for Tiago” was conceived to be more than an event; it was a gesture of human solidarity for all, irrespective of religion or background. It was an invitation to think back for just a moment that behind every crisis there may be real people with real stories, after all. In such a sense, the meeting accomplished exactly what it set itself up to do. Tiago’s story — including the ongoing investigation at the DIAP in Porto and the "Justice for Tiago" petition — continues to draw attention towards more general questions of institutional responsibility, patient dignity and accurate medical records. His is a reminder that when people bring out stories, communities can listen and respond with dignity.
To sign the petition: https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/jose_tiago_sousa_justice_for_tiago/