Half a million pilgrims in Fatima on 90th anniversary of apparitions of Virgin Mary
EUX.TVSunday, May 13, 2007 at 14:54
Subject: /Portugal-Religion/
Half a million pilgrims in Fatima pray for missing British girl
Lisbon (dpa) - About half a million pilgrims were in Fatima, Portugal on Sunday, the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that appeared to three children in the pilgrim site.
At a mass, Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano lamented the increasing alienation in Europe of the Catholic Church.
"In our countries a decline of faith is spreading, to which we cannot be indifferent," he said on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI who was in Brazil.
Europe was tempted to forget the faith that strengthened the continent for hundreds of years.
Believers in Fatima were this year called upon to pray for the safe return of Madeleine McCann, the 4-year-old British toddler, missing in Portugal's Algarve coast since May 3.
Portuguese authorities said Fatima on Sunday experienced the largest inflow of pilgrims since former pope John Paul II visited in 2000.
Located about 120 kilometres north of Lisbon, Fatima became legendary after the Virgin Mary was first said to have appeared to three shepherd children - Lucia dos Santos and brother and sister Jacinta and Francisco Marto - on May 13, 1917.
Today, the place ranks among the most important sites for Catholic pilgrims worldwide, attracting over 3 million a year.
posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 9:30 PM
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