The light from thousands of candles illuminated the night of May 12 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

Around 200,000 people from 23 countries gathered at Cova da Iria for the candlelight procession on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for the Vatican Secretariat of State, presided over the annual pilgrimage.

He said to the faithful, “this night we walk under the loving gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary to find peace and new light in our hearts.”

He urged those gathered to listen to Mary’s “tender voice as a Mother who invites us, even today, to do what Jesus asks of us.”

It was after a gap of more than two years that devotees from around the world crowded the Marian shrine without the pandemic restrictions. During the rosary, the third mystery was dedicated to peace in Ukraine.

During his Wednesday General Audience, addressing the Portuguese-speaking pilgrims, Pope Francis said that his thoughts were with the pilgrims “bringing the joys and worries of their hearts to Our Lady” at the Sanctuary of Fatima.

“United with these brothers of ours, we too entrust our ardent desire for peace in the world to the Virgin Mary, who embraces everyone with her maternal gaze,” said the Holy Father.

May 13th of this year also marks the fifth anniversary of the canonization of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the young seers to whom the Virgin Mary entrusted her messages of penance and reparation for sin. - Shalom World

Source: https://www.rvasia.org/world-news/200-thousand-devotees-attend-candlelight-procession-fatima