Vatican City, Nov 20, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The world-famous Fatima shrine will not be turned into a multi-faith pilgrim center, confirmed a Vatican official yesterday.
The rumors began after a Portuguese newspaper printed a false report, following an interfaith congress held at the Paul VI Pastoral Center in Fatima.
Devotees were initially shocked and upset at these reports, saying that it would be a “total abandonment” of what the shrine stands for, reported the Universe.
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, reassured devotees that there were no such plans to turn the shrine into an interfaith center and that Fatima would definitely remain a place of prayer centered on Our Lady.