The beginning of the pilgrimage of September was marked by a prayer for the victims of the fires, the refugees and the persecuted Christians

The beginning of the pilgrimage of September was marked by a prayer for the victims of the fires, the refugees and the persecuted Christians

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Holy See, is the president of the pilgrimage that marks the fifth apparition

The Chapel of the Apparitions hosted, late this evening, the opening of the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of September that marks the fifth apparition of Our Lady to the three little Shepherds.

The president of this pilgrimage is Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Holy See, who addressed his greeting to “the land of the Lady in White: let’s put our pilgrimage, pilgrimage of faith, under the protection of the little Shepherds: so that they can help us understand the true Message of Fatima”.

Mauro Piacenza talked about the Centennial of the Apparitions and said that “the prophetic Message of Mary” is still contemporary and it’s not limited to the period from 1917 to 2000, year in which the third part of the secret was revealed.

Before thousands of people gathered in the Prayer Area, Mauro Piacenza stated that “By looking at the world’s situation, it would be impossible to deny the contemporary aspect of Fatima.”

The Major Penitentiary warned the pilgrims to the establishment of a “dictatorship of a single mindset” and to the worldwide “war by bits” that Pope Francis has been condemning and that can break out any time soon”.

António Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fatima, addressed a greeting at the Prayer Ceremony in the Chapel of the Apparitions, recalling the “victims of the fires” before praying for the peace in the Middle East, for the refugees and for the persecuted Christians.

“Here in Fatima, we feel in a very unique way that we have a mother, like Pope Francis said here many times” stated António Marto.

The theme of the celebrations is “Mother of Church, pray for us” and at the moment, and according to the Shrine of Fatima, 157 groups are registered (8982 pilgrims) coming from 35 countries.