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MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE - 1 JANUARY 2008

In the light of these significant anniversaries, I invite every man and woman to have a more lively sense of belonging to the one human family, and to strive to make human coexistence increasingly reflect this conviction, which is essential for the establishment of true and lasting peace. I likewise invite believers to implore tirelessly from God the great gift of peace. Christians, for their part, know that they can trust in the intercession of Mary, who, as the Mother of the Son of God made flesh for the salvation of all humanity, is our common Mother. To all my best wishes for a joyful New Year!

XX National Encounter of Pastoral Health Ministry

- Good Practices at the Service of the Person - The 20th National Encounter of Pastoral Health Ministry, planned and organized by the National Committee for Pastoral Health Ministry, was held in Fatima, on the 26th through the 29th of November, at Paul VI Pastoral Center and it was attended by more than 600 people from throughout the whole country. In the Conclusions of the Encounter, document read at the concluding session, late morning on November 29, the attendees ask the Portuguese State for “the permanent cooperation, specially through the Ministries of Health, Labor and Social Security, by approving the various projects in the area of health proposed by the Church, as well as for a State contribution for the respective program of each project”. To the Church in Portugal they ask, in turn, for “its practical involvement in people’s health”. One of the solutions proposed would be the creation of “Life Centers, to be created in every Diocese, capable of guaranteeing the defense and promotion of life since its beginning. These centers must provide unconditional support to mothers, in all situations, support the education of youth in their affective and sexual life, and accompany young couples in their decisions for a responsible paternity, in the treatment of infertility and in so many other problems which call for specific aid, respecting always everybody’s liberty.

Holy Father greets the pilgrims of Fatima

November 13, during the Mass of the Monthly Pilgrimage in the Shrine of Fatima, the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, who presided over the celebration, conveyed to the pilgrims present the greeting and blessing of the Holy Father Benedict XVI. Having arrived yesterday from Italy, after the visit ad Limina by the Portuguese Bishops, Most Reverend António Marto spoke to the pilgrims, in the Little Chapel of Apparitions, in these terms: “I salute you all from the bottom of my heart. I’m particularly pleased to be able to convey to you today, first hand, just after arriving from Rome, the blessing and greeting of the Holy Father to the pilgrims of Fatima”.

‘Ad Limina’ Visit of Portuguese Bishops

Shrine of Fatima expressed solidarity

This morning (Nov. 6), at the Shrine of Fatima, during the official Mass of 11h00 in the Basilica, Shrine’s Chaplain Fr. Clemente Dotti prayed for the fatal victims of yesterday night’s accident in Highway 23, in the District of Castelo Branco, Portugal.

International Pilgrimage of July

The International Pilgrimage on the 90th Anniversary of the third apparition of Our Lady in Fatima was presided over by Archbishop Jorge Ortiga, of Braga. Theme: Jesus Christ, the Face of Mercy “Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate’ (Lk.6,36) In his homily, during the celebration of Holy Mass on July 13, the Archbishop of Braga and President of the Conference of Bishops of Portugal, His Excellency José Ortiga, remarked: ‘The mercy of God consists in His faithfulness, His eternal determination to lead man to the plenitude of life which is the Alliance of Love for the communion with Himself. God is tireless, His patience is infinite, and He is always disposed to give us another chance”. He asked the pilgrims to be makers of “justice, equality and brotherhood”, explaining that “the logic of justice and mercy is this: you received freely, freely give; there is more joy in giving than in receiving; as God has forgiven you, so too you must forgive; who practices mercy must do it cheerfully”. He also appealed to the pilgrims to grow “in faith and charity” and get inspiration for “a social intervention commensurate with the challenges of our time and with proposals in accordance with the doctrine of the Church”. The prelate is of opinion that we are currently noticing “a rapid turnaround towards a certain secularism which, openly or covertly, seeks to remove God from man’s history and life and from the traditional course of our country; therefore, all Christians must engage all efforts in the affirmation of the primacy of God and of Evangelic values, in order to build a more just society, with more dignifying life conditions for all our citizens”.

June 9/10, 2008: Children’s Pilgrimage to Fatima

Children’s Pilgrimage Tries to sensitize them for Culture of Truth The theme of the Children’s Pilgrimage to Fatima, to take place this year on June 9/10, 2008, will be the Eighth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (nor any in way lie or defame him)”. This is theme of the culture of truth in opposition to the culture of lies – a theme very appropriate to today’s culture – whose catechesis, in this Pilgrimage, we sum up in the slogan which says the essential: “Jesus You Alone are the Truth!”

Children’s National Pilgrimage

Children’s National Pilgrimage, one of the most expressive pilgrimages held in the Shrine of Fátima, will take place, as usual, on June 9/10, with a peculiarity this year: it makes part of the commemorative activities of the 90th anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady in Fátima.

90th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Fatima

Welcome, Your Eminence!

Liturgical Feast of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto

On Tuesday, Feb.20, the Liturgical Feast of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto will be celebrated in the Shrine of Fátima. Holy Mass will begin at 11h00 in the Basilica of the Shrine.