05 june, 2011
 (São Tomé e Príncipe)
The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima leaves São Tomé e Príncipe for Portugal on June 4, after a pilgrimage of more than a month through that African country.
On the following day, June 5, it will be handed over to the Shrine of Fatima by the bishop of that Diocese, Most Rev. Manuel António Santos, CMF, during the 11h00 Mass in the Prayer Area of the Shrine of Fatima.
Bishop Santos invites in particular the community of people from São Tomé residing in Portugal to be in Fatima on that day.
 In declarations to the Shrine of Fatima, via Internet, Bishop Santos mentioned the main motives of the pilgrimage of the Pilgrim Statue to São Tomé: “The first motive had to do with the inauguration, in Bate-Pá, of a Shrine dedicated to the Pilgrim Our Lady of Fatima. This was an old desire of the Diocese of São Tomé, which I decided to fulfill. The other two motives for this pilgrimage were to create an environment of reflection on the meaning of Mary in the History of Salvation, at a time when “sects” have sown confusion amongst a lot of people regarding images; and finally to provide moments of prayer before Mary involving the entire Diocese”.
The Statue departed from Portugal on April 29, escorted by Bishop Abílio Ribas, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of São Tomé; and arrived the following day in São Tomé, where it traveled through several towns.
Bishop Santos declares that “all parishes were visited. The Statue of Our Lady traveled by car, plane and boat. I hope that this visit may strengthen the faith of the people of São Tomé and truly be a moment for faith and catechesis”.
The highlight of the visit was the inauguration, on May 8, of the Shrine of the Pilgrim Our Lady of Fatima in Bate-Pá.
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