May 12–13 Celebrations Draw the Faithful from Around the World
The May 12 and 13 celebrations gathered faithful from across the globe during the Church’s Jubilee Year. The International Anniversary Pilgrimage of May brought an astonishing 470,000 pilgrims to Cova da Iria, who participated with living faith and deep emotion in the celebrations commemorating the 108th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to the Shepherd Children — Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta. The theme of peace resounded as one of the central messages.
The Night of May 12
The night of May 12 marked the full return of large-scale pilgrimages, with around 270,000 pilgrims gathered in the Prayer Area of the Sanctuary. The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil), who reflected on contemporary global crises and the urgent need for reconciliation among peoples.
A Night of Faith, Memory, and Art
The celebration was also attended by Cardinal António Marto, Bishop José Ornelas, along with 18 other bishops and 171 priests from various parts of the world. The liturgy began with readings from the Memoirs of Sister Lúcia, recalling May 13, 1917 — the day Our Lady first appeared in Cova da Iria.
One of the most symbolic moments was the inauguration and blessing of a new bronze cross in the presbytery of the Chapel of the Apparitions. Created by sculptor Rogério Timóteo, the cross strikingly highlights the figure of the crucified Christ, serving as a powerful symbol for the Holy Year.
On that day, 173 organized groups of pilgrims from all continents were registered in the celebrations, representing the true universal dimension of the Sanctuary of Fátima as a meeting place of faith and hope for humanity.
May 13 Celebrations
Inspired by the Gospel of the Wedding at Cana, the Brazilian cardinal reminded the faithful of the need to renew the spirit with “the wine of concord, forgiveness, and peace.” In one of the most moving passages of the homily, he exhorted:
“We need the wine of harmony, understanding between peoples, the wine of forgiveness, of peace, the courage to look each other in the eye and say: ‘You are my brother, you are my sister.’”
Cardinal Jaime highlighted Mary as the “Holy Mother of Hope,” a model of faithful discipleship and an intercessor before God, especially in dark times:
“Mary is a mother! A mother who gives life, cares, accompanies, guides, corrects, and encourages. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by her; let us listen to what she continues to say: ‘Do whatever He tells you!’”
At the end of the celebration, the cardinal invited everyone to pray together the invocation of the Hail, Holy Queen — “Our hope, hail!” — praying for each Christian’s mission in bearing witness to the faith, and for the pontificate of the new Pope Leo XIV.
Elected on May 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV moved and surprised the world with his first words as Successor of Peter: “Peace be with you” — the greeting of the Risen Christ, which marked the beginning of his pontificate with a global appeal for humble, unarmed, and divine peace.
See videos and photos of the pilgrims and emotional moments from the celebrations on our Instagram.
