Lisbon, Portugal, Jan 11, 2007 / 12:54 pm
Pope Benedict XVI will not travel to Fatima in October 2007 for the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Cova de Iria, Portugal.
According to the Ecclesia news agency, the secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Portugal, Bishop Carlos Azevedo, made the announcement at the conclusion of a meeting of the bishops’ executive committee with a statement from the Vatican Secretary of State.
The Holy Father had been invited to the celebrations several months ago by the Portuguese bishops. The reason he will not be able to attend is because of the previous engagements the Pontiff is scheduled to keep this year and that have forced him to reduce the number of trips he will take.
Nevertheless, the Pope will send a special envoy and he said he hoped to be able to visit Portugal in the future.