Pope Francis “closes” the Centennial of the Apparitions and leaves a message to the pilgrims

Pope Francis “closes” the Centennial of the Apparitions and leaves a message to the pilgrims

The Holy Father wanted to associate himself with the closure of the celebrations and appealed: “Never quit the Rosary”

Pope Francis, who attended the first International Pilgrimage of the Centennial, came back to take part in the last pilgrimage through a message voiced in Spanish and directed to the pilgrims; this message was transmitted on screens placed over the Prayer Area. 

“Dear Brothers and Sisters, as you celebrate today the closure of the Centennial of the Apparitions of the Most Blessed Virgin in Fatima, I would like to send you my blessing and greeting.

I still bring in my heart the memory of my journey and the blessings the Virgin wanted to give me and the Church, on that day. Never be afraid; God is so much better than all our miseries! And He loves us so much!

Go ahead! And never go away from the Mother; As a child, who is close to his mother and feels safe, next to the Virgin, we also feel much secure. She is our guarantee.

And finally, I would like to give you an advice: Never quit the Rosary; Never quit the Rosary, pray the Rosary as She asked to.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
And pray for me too.

Thank you”.

Antonio Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fatima, explained that the Pope’s message was recorded during a private audience conceded to the persons in charge of the Shrine of Fatima, on September 30th, in the Vatican.

“Today, we are living here an historical and unique moment for Fatima, the Church, Portugal and for all the pilgrims of Fatima: the solemn closure of the Centennial of the Apparitions”, he added.

The bishop directed a message of greeting to the pilgrims whom he considered responsible for keeping the topicality of the message of Fatima.  

“Fatima is always new; it does not get old” declared Mgr. Antonio Marto.

On the occasion of the celebrations of the Centennial, the Pope visited Cova da Iria, where he canonized, at the Mass of May 13th, the little Shepherds Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the three seers of Fatima.