BY Ian Dunn | April 27 | 
0 COMMENTS 
print
Pope Francis to visit Fatima for the centenary of the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pope Francis is expected to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal (above) in 2017 on the 100th anniversary of the Apparitions.
News of the visit was given directly to the bishop of Fatima by the Holy Father during a private audience at the Vatican on Saturday.
“Pope Francis confirmed to Bishop Antonio Marto that, ‘if God gives him life and health,’ he wants to be in Cova di Iria to celebrate the centenary of the Apparitions of Fatima,” the diocese state released today said.
The communique also stated that after having received various invitations to Fatima, this is the first time that the Pope has confirmed his desire to go, as well as authorizing the diocese to make his intention to visit public.
On May 1 1917, three shepherd children: Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta Marto and Francisco Marto were visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary. After several months, almost 30,000 people witnessed The Miracle of the Sun, a phenomenon in which the sun spun and changed colors. The sign was promised by the Virgin Mary so that the faithful would believe.
St John Paul II credited the Blessed Mother with saving his life from an assassin’s bullet on May 13th, 1981. He later placed the bullet in the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
RSS Feeds