Thousands of pilgrims will take part this Monday, starting at 10 a.m., at the Sanctuary of Fatima in the final Mass of the May pilgrimage to Cova da Iria, presided over by the Spanish Cardinal Juan José Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona.
Omella on Sunday evening at the opening ceremony of the pilgrimage urged Catholics not to be afraid to turn to the Virgin Mary, conveying all requests and prayers to her.
In front of some 250 thousand pilgrims (figures published by the Sanctuary of Fatima), including the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Spanish cardinal advised the faithful to ask for “world peace” before Our Lady. and for the conversion of sinners.”
During this pilgrimage to the sanctuary, the presence of 186 groups of pilgrims was reported, 92 of which were Portuguese, and believers from 32 foreign countries were also registered.
The pilgrimage, which ends this Monday, in addition to celebrating the 107th anniversary of the first appearance of Our Lady to the three Little Shepherds in 1917, also recalls the seventh anniversary of the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who on May 13, 2017 became the youngest non-martyr saints in the Church.
In this context, this Monday, at 18:00, a “moment of veneration of the two saints” is planned in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, where they are buried.