Pope's Fatima Pilgrimage outlined

The Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Mister Greg Burke held a Press Conference earlier today in which he explained to journalists that the Holy Father's upcoming voyage to Fatima should be considered an Apostolic Pilgrimage.

Pope Francis' first trip to Portugal follows in the footsteps of his predecessors.  Pope emeritus Benedict XVI visited there in 2010, Pope Saint John Paul II went three times (in 1982 following the assassination attempt that took place on May 13, 1981, again in 1991 and finally during the Jubilee of 2000), and Pope Paul VI visited Fatima in 1967.

Pope Francis is making this pilgrimage in response to invitations which were issued by the President of Portugal and by the Bishops of that nation.

During his Marian pilgrimage, the Holy Father will canonize two of the visionary shepherd children: Francisco Marto and his sister Jacinta.

The people of Portugal are at least 80% Christian, the majority of whom are Catholic.  There are three Archdioceses and seventeen Dioceses as well as a Military Ordinariate.

Itinerary for the Apostolic Pilgrimage 

of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to the Shrine of Fatima

Friday, 12 May 2017
2:00pm
Departure from Rome's Fumicino International Airport for Monte Real (Portugal)

4:20pm
Arrival at the Monte Real air base
Welcoming ceremony

4:35pm
Private meeting with the President of the Republic inside the Monte Real air base

4:55pm
Visit to the chapel at the air base

5:15pm
Transfer by helicopter to the stadium at Fatima

5:35pm
Arrival at the Fatima stadium and transfer by popemobile to the Shrine

6:15pm
Visit to the Chapel of the Apparitions
Prayer of the Holy Father

9:30pm
Blessing of candles in the Chapel of the Apparitions
Greetings of the Holy Father
Recitation of the Holy Rosary

Saturday, 13 May 2017
9:10am
Meeting with the Prime Minister at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo House

9:40am
Visit to the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fatima

10:00am
Holy Mass in the churchyard of the Shrine
Homily of the Holy Father
Greetings of the Holy Father for the sick

12:30pm
Lunch with the bishops of Portugal at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo House

2:45pm
Departure ceremony at the Monte Real airbase

3:00pm
Departure from the Monte Real airbase for Rome

7:05pm
Arrival at Rome's Ciampino International Airport