As reported by Patricia Duarte, director of the press office of the sanctuary in Fatima, during the eight months of this year alone, 15.9 thousand Poles arrived in this Portuguese town.
She specified that these data do not include the first three weeks of September, during which pilgrims from Poland were present in large numbers in Fatima.
Poles who visited this place on their own were not included either. Marian cultbecause, as she explained, the rector’s office of the sanctuary is not able to estimate the number of small groups and people arriving there individually.
“From January 1 to August 31, 2024, 33 percent more Polish pilgrims came to our sanctuary in organized groups than during a similar period in 2023,” said Patricia Duarte.
Pilgrimages to Fatima. Poles in the absolute lead
The representative of the Portuguese Marian place of worship added that this year Poles have become the second most frequent foreign nation visiting Fatima after the Spanish.
“The next nationalities are Italians, Americans and also Ukrainians,” Duarte added.
The Catholic Church has recognized the events at Fatima in 1917 as authentic Marian apparitions. According to the Church, during the apparitions Our Lady gave three Portuguese children three secrets and a call for humanity to conversionpenance and prayer.
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