Eugénio Fonseca, prominent Portuguese social activist, dies at 69

Eugénio Fonseca, a prominent figure in Portuguese social action and volunteering, has passed away at the age of 69. He died following a cardiorespiratory arrest while swimming at Figueirinha beach in Setúbal on Wednesday, August 12.

Fonseca held several high-profile leadership roles, including serving as the president of Cáritas Portuguesa from 1999 to 2020 and the president of Cáritas Diocesana de Setúbal from 1987 to 2016. He was also the president of the Portuguese Confederation of Volunteering (CPV).

Religious and civic leaders, including the Patriarch of Lisbon and the President of the Republic, expressed deep sadness over his death, praising his lifelong commitment to fighting poverty and supporting vulnerable populations. His funeral services are scheduled to take place at the Sé de Setúbal, with a mass on Monday, August 17, followed by interment at the Nossa Senhora da Piedade Cemetery.