Edgar Freitas Gomes da Silva, 63, is still remembered by many as 'Father Edgar', despite leaving the priesthood in 1997. His image is associated with defending 'little box children' and founding the Children's Apostolate Movement (MAC) in Madeira, denouncing abuse and child prostitution.
Silva began his civic engagement long before entering politics, living among the poorest and defending street children. His political career started in the late 1990s, serving as a regional deputy and leader of the PCP and CDU. Currently, after a presidential candidacy in 2016, he is pursuing an academic career at the Catholic University.
In an interview for the 'Rostos da Autonomia' podcast, Edgar Silva recalls his adolescence and the appeal of helping the disadvantaged. His experience in Lisbon, living for two years in a shack in the Curraleira neighborhood among the 'poorest of the poor', profoundly shaped his understanding of social reality and his preferential option for the most vulnerable.
