Pope Francis Prays for Peace at Shrine in Fatima, Portugal
FATIMA, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis made a visit to the Portuguese town of Fatima on Saturday to pray for peace at a shrine renowned for its apocalyptic prophesies. The shrine’s association with peace and conversion in Russia has gained new relevance in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, the Pope surprised attendees by deviating from his prepared remarks and choosing not to recite a prayer written specifically for the occasion. Instead, he opted to pray silently for peace while meditating before a statue of the Virgin Mary.
The shrine in Fatima is famous for its connection to a series of apparitions witnessed by three young peasant children in 1917. These apparitions have turned the town into one of the most popular Marian pilgrimage sites in the world, attracting millions of visitors annually. During his visit, an estimated 200,000 people turned out to see the Pope, with the central esplanade filled to capacity long before daybreak. However, nearby wildfires created a smoky, black sky and sent ash raining down on the crowd.
Francis’ visit to Fatima was a side trip from his main program in Lisbon, where he was presiding over the World Youth Day Catholic festival. The event in Fatima also featured young participants, including people with disabilities who read prayers aloud and young inmates who were granted permission to attend. The Pope blessed many babies as he made his way through the crowd in his popemobile.
The story of Fatima dates back to 1917, when three children claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary on multiple occasions. The secrets revealed during these encounters included apocalyptic visions, the end of World War I and the rise and fall of Soviet communism. In 2000, the Vatican released the long-awaited third secret, which was said to have foretold the assassination attempt on St. John Paul II in 1981. According to Lucia, one of the children who became a nun and recently passed away, Russia would convert to Catholicism and peace would prevail if the pope and all bishops consecrated Russia to the “Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Lucia later claimed that John Paul fulfilled this prophecy in a 1984 Mass, although he did not specifically mention Russia in his prayer.
The mystical and prophetic nature of Fatima has intrigued Catholics for decades. The recent wildfire and ashfall experienced during the Pope’s visit seemed reminiscent of an unusual weather phenomenon called the “Miracle of the Sun” that was reported by witnesses in 1917. According to legend, the seers predicted that the Virgin would perform a miracle on October 13, 1917, resulting in tens of thousands of people flocking to Fatima. Witness accounts described a spinning sun in the sky, zigzagging toward Earth.
Prior to his visit to Fatima, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis would pray for peace in Ukraine and the world. In a prayer that was later tweeted but not read aloud, Francis consecrated the church and the world to Mary, particularly mentioning countries at war. Bishop Jose Ornelas of Fatima also made an explicit prayer for Ukraine during his remarks.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained the reason for the Pope’s changes in his prepared remarks, stating that Francis always addresses the people he meets first and speaks accordingly. He denied any serious reasons for the changes, including issues with the Pope’s eyesight. This visit to Fatima marked one of the most grueling days of the Pope’s five-day visit to Portugal, but the Vatican planned to adjust his schedule to allow for more rest before a planned prayer vigil.
On Sunday morning, Pope Francis is set to preside over a final outdoor Mass in Lisbon before returning to the Vatican. The Mass will take place amid scorching temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees C (104F).
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