29 january, 2009
The day when the Shrine recalls the testimony of Sister Lucia, the Fatima seer who died on February 13, 2005, was the date chosen for the inauguration of a photograph exhibition of another person intimately linked to Our Lady of Fatima: Pope John Paul II.
After the 11h00 Mass celebrated in Most Holy Trinity Church, presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Leiria-Fatima, this bishop and the Ambassadress of Poland in Portugal, Katarzyna Skórzynska, inaugurated the photograph exhibition ‘Karol Wojtyla, the faith, the way, the friendship. Trips with Friends (1952-1954)’.
“It is for us a gift, joy and praise to be able to enjoy the richness of this exhibition”, this is how Bishop António Marto reacted on seeing this exhibition, which will stay open to the public until June of this year, in the hall next to the Chapel of Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in the lower floor of Most Holy Trinity Church Complex.
John Paul II “is truly the Pope of Fatima” and, therefore, Bishop Marto foresees that this “rekindling of the memory”, which the exhibition makes possible and because “the pilgrims of Fatima are naturally attracted by John Paul II”, “will charm the pilgrims who will come here”.
The Ambassadress of the Republic of Poland in Portugal voiced the satisfaction felt by the country she represents on account of the warm reception by the Shrine of the Embassy’s initiative and called attention to “the great closeness of Pope John Paul II to the Shrine of Fatima and to Our Lady of Fatima”.
Katarzyna Skórzynska also mentioned that this exhibition happens to open on the same year when her country celebrates “the 20th anniversary of the democratic change occurred in Poland”. And added: “Pope John Paul II always supported the fight against the communist regime and for liberty and independence and also the Solidarity movement which brought about the democratic change in Poland”.
After the inauguration, there followed a guided tour to the exhibition, in which took part, amongst others, the Rector of the Shrine, the Director of SESDI (Department of Research and Information of the Shrine) and the Head of the Department of Art and Patrimony of the Museum of the Shrine of Fatima.
Anima Media Publishing House and Cinematographic Studium is the organizer of the exhibition.ARCHIVE: Two initiatives mark the 13th of February at the Shrine of Fatima, on the fourth anniversary of death of seer Sister Lucia: - The Monthly Pilgrimage itself, presided over by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima. Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11h00 in Most Holy Trinity Church. - The inauguration of an exhibition of photographs of John Paul II. After the Holy Mass. |
