Crowds of migrants anticipate attending the August pilgrimage to Fatima
The Fatima Sanctuary in Portugal is set to host an international pilgrimage from August 12 to 13, 2025, as part of the 53rd National Migration Week. The theme of the pilgrimage is "Migrants, missionaries of hope."
The festivities kick off on Tuesday evening, August 12, with a Eucharistic procession at 5:30 PM, followed by the recitation of the rosary at 9:30 PM, a candlelight procession, and the celebration of the Word.
On Wednesday, August 13, religious ceremonies commence early with a Eucharistic procession at 7:00 AM, followed by the rosary in the Chapel at 9:00 AM. The pilgrimage concludes with a Mass that includes the blessing of the sick and a farewell procession. This event continues a tradition over 80 years old where youth groups offer wheat from 17 parishes of the former Leiria Diocese.
The afternoon of August 13 marks the 70th anniversary of the Fatima Sanctuary Museum's foundation. The museum, dedicated to studying and making known the history of the Fatima Apparitions and the Sanctuary, preserves and exhibits various material testimonies from the time of the Apparitions and multiple objects from Fatima's history. The most emblematic piece in the museum is the crown of the Image of Our Lady of Fatima, offered in 1942 by women from Portugal. The crown incorporates a bullet extracted from the body of Pope John Paul II, who was shot in 1981.
A guided visit to the temporary exhibition and a short documentary screening are part of the anniversary celebrations. The museum's official website highlights the crown of the Image of Our Lady of Fatima as its most emblematic piece.
However, the search results do not mention specific events tied to the commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall or the exhibit of the crown of the Image of Our Lady of Fatima during this pilgrimage or at the sanctuary currently.
The pilgrimage is presided over by the emeritus archbishop of Urgel, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília. The international pilgrimage at the Sanctuary of Fatima in 2025 is part of the 53rd National Migration Week, running from August 10 to August 17, with the pilgrimage events primarily scheduled on August 13 (Wednesday).
[1] Fatima Sanctuary Museum Official Website: https://www.fatima.pt/ [3] Fatima Sanctuary Museum Temporary Exhibition Information: https://www.fatima.pt/en/exposicoes-temporarias/
- To complement the cultural-travel experience during the pilgrimage, one could visit the Fatima Sanctuary Museum, a historical institution dedicated to the Fatima Apparitions and the Sanctuary's history, where the most emblematic piece is the crown of Our Lady of Fatima.
- While attending the international pilgrimage at the Fatima Sanctuary in 2025, travelers may find interest in exploring lifestyle and cultural aspects beyond religious ceremonies, such as the temporary exhibitions and documentary screenings at the Fatima Sanctuary Museum.
