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The Holy Father was on Portuguese soil for less than 24 hours. Nevertheless, a marathon of meaningful and prophetic gestures and words moved and called into action the thousands who joined his pilgrimage to Fátima. It occurred on May 12th and 13th, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady Apparitions of 1917, and for the canonization of the Children of Fátima, Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

These were days of celebration of the Portuguese Church. Pope Francis, who stressed the major role Mary must be given in Christian life, prayed nearby the image of Our Lady of Fátima and was as moved as many other pilgrims who approached the Sanctuary. “We have a mother!”, He said twice, remembering the crowd that Mary is not just a «"plaster statue” from whom we beg favours at a little cost». She is the Mother of God and the one who makes us “believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness”. The Holy Father spoke not only to the Portuguese faithful, but rather to the whole world and asked for a Church “poor in means and rich in love”.

It was a favourable time also for the Portuguese Jesuits who took part in this celebration. They were present in several ways: accompanying youth pilgrimages, concelebrating with the Holy Father at the canonization Mass of the Children of Fátima or giving support to the organization and broadcast of the event, by their intervention in the national media.

Four Portuguese Jesuits, Father Provincial José Frazão Correia, among them, had the opportunity to personally greet Pope Francis, stating the support of the Society of Jesus in Portugal in his mission as the successor of Peter.

Picture: Portuguese Jesuits before the concelebration with Pope Francis in Fatima

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