Pope Benedict to deliver 'intense' message during Fatima visit

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 15

Vatican City, May 5, 2010 / 12:20 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- "Fatima is a particularly significant place for this Pope," said Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi on Tuesday, noting that it was also a destination for two former Popes. The Holy Father has a thorough knowledge of the history of the Marian sanctuary, he added.

Fr. Lombardi held a press conference at the Vatican to prepare the media for the Pope's next trip out of the Vatican. He will be visiting Portugal from May 11-14.

The spokesman referred to the Pope's stop in Fatima on May 13 as the highlight and "heart" of the upcoming four-day trip to Portugal, according to Vatican Radio. But, he pointed out, Benedict XVI will not be the first Pope to visit the Marian shrine.

Two other Pontiffs have been to Fatima. In 1967, the sanctuary hosted Paul VI, and John Paul II visited in 1982, 1991 and 2000, at which time the visionaries Jacinta and Francesco were beatified.

The Portuguese shrine is not unfamiliar to Pope Benedict, since as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger extensively studied the message of Fatima. Fr. Lombardi said on Tuesday that the Pope has been involved with history of the Marian sanctuary in a "very deep, personal way."

It was him, for example, who was called upon to give a theological perspective when the third secret of Fatima was made public in 2000.

The Vatican spokesman said that the Holy Father will also deliver an intense message during his Fatima visit. Upon his arrival at the sanctuary on May 12, he will remember John Paul II and the 29th anniversary of the assassination attempt that nearly took his life on May 13, 1981.

This visit marks the Holy Father's 15th Apostolic Journey abroad in his five years and is his first to Portugal as Pope.

During today's general audience, the Holy Father greeted the people of Portugal in their language, telling them that he will be there this coming weekend at the invitation of the president of the nation and the episcopal conference.

He said he was "happy to be able to visit the 'land of Holy Mary'" on the 10th anniversary of the beatification of the shepherd children.

According to Portuguese press reports, local police are planning for a cumulative total of 450,000 people at the celebrations in Lisbon, Fatima and Portugal during the four-day visit.

Comments: 15

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Teresa
Denver CO USA 05/12/2010 11:08 AM EST

I pray my Rosary each day for the ongoing success of the SSPX and for the Holy Father to Conscrate Russia (by name) to Her Immaculate Heart. While some of the Bishops will disobey, Our Lord, may feel they are no longer His Bishops, but instead belong to this "imposter" Church of the Second Vatican Council. The true Bishops will obey in the Consecration to Our Lady. Keep praying it happens. I have great confidence in the Most Holy Rosary -- everyone should!!

Published by: Ireland
Ireland 05/12/2010 09:05 AM EST

The first line of Brandon's comment is erroneous and arrogantly condemnatory. Mattters pertaining to visions are not doctrinal therefore someone believing or not believing in the visions or related matters cannot result in separation in any way from the Church.

Published by: Michael Grizzell
England 05/10/2010 03:44 AM EST

THE THIRD SECRET OF FATIMA MUST BE REVEALED. PRAY THAT HE DOES THAT AT FATIMA. PRAY TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND TO OUR LORD IN THE DIVINE MERCY.

Published by: Dennis
Prospect,Ct 05/07/2010 12:32 AM EST

I pray the Holy Father will make this consecration EXACTLY as Mary has requested. Our very existence may depend upon it. God bless you all.

Published by: Robertz
KY 05/06/2010 03:59 PM EST

I choose to believe the Fatima messages. I have nothing against further consecrations and all for it. I also have read a long time ago (or was it a video of her?) that Sr. Lucia directly stated that the consecration had been fulfilled, as Jack also mentions. Now was she lying about the consecration? If she was then I would have to reconsider the prudence of believing Fatima itself. Francis, I have been in agreement with many of the comments you have made on this site in the past. But your posting here indicates a certain amount of pride. Until I have been made aware of further information for clarification, I'll have to listen to the opinion of Sr. Lucia herself over yours.

Published by: Jim
Orange County, CA 05/06/2010 11:25 AM EST

"intense message" can mean almost anything these days. We must continue to hope and pray. The Holy Father has much to suffer. He will need great strength to perform the consecration as our Lady directed.

Published by: Adders Fang
UK 05/06/2010 10:50 AM EST

The Consecration has not been done. It needs to be done with all the world's Bishops and ordered by the Pope. We must see all 4500 of them on TV doing it either in St. Peter's square or Fatima. Russia is an impure place and so is the West.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 05/06/2010 09:23 AM EST

Jason, thankyou, yes, I am aware of the Rosary Crusade by the SSPX. With so many Rosaries presented to the Holy Father good things can't be far away. I too add this intention to my daily Rosary as well. It's comical that the Neo-Catholics so firmly believe that no further consecrations are necessary for Russia. Those past Consecrations, while very holy, did not in my opinion and in the opinion of others fulfill the intentions of Our Lady of Fatima because some did not consecrate Russia but "the world", to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the other ones weren't in union with the Bishops of the world. So hopefully, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to the Immaculate heart of Mary in union with the Bishops of the World when he goes to Fatima next week. As Fred from Chicago correctly stated: "And why, pray tell, would anyone object to more consecrations"?

Published by: steve strubing
Houston Texas 05/06/2010 07:22 AM EST

Everyone who has prayed and done what Our Lord and Our Lady has requested should be happy! That said, we are all sinners and should continue to make reparation each day of our lives to God for our sins. The problem is few people today recognize sin, especially Catholics. 54 percent voted for a very evil man, because he is a reflection of what is in their hearts and minds. How can any man who goes against Natural Law and the Law of God make Just Laws? Now for all the young, who do not know the Fatima promises. Our Blessed Lady never could lie. She promised that IF the consecration of Russia was done, that there would be peace and that Russia would be converted to Catholicism. That has NOT HAPPENED. Point of fact: Russia is spreading its errors and the people of the US are loosing their liberties to a Godless Man they openly voted for! Next, God said in 1929 that the consecration would be done as HE requested it to be, but that the hour would be late! What Our Lord wanted was for the Bishops of the world to petition the Pope to accomplish this, out of Love and respect for Our most Beautiful & Immaculate Mother. Make no mistake about it, this is the pope that was in Jacinta's Prophecy. Read the lives of the saints. Russia will march on Poland, then Italy and will go into the Vatican. It is when all seems lost the God will do battle. There will be another world war and chastisement. We shall have the 3 days of darkness! Bishops are foolish and the world today more evil.

Published by: Jason
Kenner, LA USA 05/05/2010 04:54 PM EST

Wow Brandon. Is your proclamation of schism infallible? The FACTS are that the SSPX, and the hundreds of thousands of souls who prayed over 19 million rosaries are NOT in schism. The Russian Orthodox, however, ARE.

Published by: Fred
Chicago 05/05/2010 04:30 PM EST

Why is it schismatic or hateful to disagree with the way in which any of the consecrations were performed? No action of the Holy Father has ever been beyond the prudential consideration of the church. Actions are not dogmas. And why, pray tell, would anyone object to more consecrations? I think the Devil doth protest too much

Published by: Jack
NY 05/05/2010 03:33 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Hopefully, Francis, you'll accept the fact that the consecration was made on March 25, 1984. Heaven accepted it as Sr. Lucia confirmed.

Published by: Brandon
Omaha, NE 05/05/2010 03:15 PM EST

Rate: Bad

Russia has already been consecrated and anyone who says it is not is schismatic and not in union with the Pope thus the Catholic Church. Oct. 31, 1942 – Pope Pius XII – make an initial consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Dec. 8, 1942 – Pope Pius XII -"all the peoples of Russia to the same Immaculate Heart." (Pius XII, Apostolic Letter Sacro vergente anno, July 7, 1952; AAS 44, 1952, p. 343.) Pope Paul VI Renews Pope Pius XII’s Consecration in 1964 50th Anniversary of Fatima, May 13, 1967, Pope Paul VI does it again March 25, 1984, Collegial Consecration – Fulfillment of the Fatima request by John Paul II.

Published by: Jason
Kenner, LA USA 05/05/2010 02:03 PM EST

I was thinking the same thing, Francis. The SSPX just wrapped up a rosary crusade in which 19,107,331 rosaries were prayed with that very intention. I don't believe they've been presented to the Holy Father yet. The total is higher than that even because, since the rosary crusade ended, I continue to offer that intention as part of my daily rosary and I'm sure many others do as well.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 05/05/2010 01:19 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

Hopefully the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in union with all of the Bishops of the world as requested by Our Lady at Fatima.

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com