Original Fátima Statue Returns to Rome for Historic Papal Event

Fátima's Iconic Statue Embarks on Pilgrimage to Rome

The original image of Our Lady of Fátima, venerated at the Chapel of Apparitions in the Marian sanctuary, is departing from Portugal this Friday, heading to the Italian capital. As described, 'The Lady dressed in white' becomes a pilgrim of hope and will stand beside the 'bishop dressed in white,' a term affectionately used by the shepherd children of Fátima to refer to the Holy Father.

This journey is part of the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality program scheduled for October 11th and 12th in Rome.

Papal Involvement and Historical Context

Pope Leo XIV will lead the Rosary for Peace this Saturday, joined by faithful and pilgrims from both the Jubilee of Consecrated Life and the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality. In St. Peter's Square, the collective prayer will be accompanied by the original statue of Our Lady of Fátima.

This marks the fourth time the statue has left the Sanctuary of Fátima for Rome: first in 1984 for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Redemption, when St. John Paul II consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25th; second during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000; and third in October 2013 for the Year of Faith with Pope Francis.

Significance and Symbolism

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, emphasized that the presence of the beloved original image allows everyone to experience the closeness of the Virgin Mary. He noted it as one of the most significant Marian icons for Christians worldwide, echoing the Holy Father's words in the Bull of Proclamation of the Jubilee, Spes non confundit, which venerates her as the "most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children."

Indeed, in Fátima, the Virgin assured the three shepherd children—and continues to assure each of us—saying, "I will never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path that leads you to God."

Details of the Statue and Its History

The sculpture, crafted by Portuguese artist José Ferreira Thedim in 1920, is typically housed in the Chapel of Apparitions at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima. From May to October 1917, the Virgin appeared six times to the shepherd children: Lúcia dos Santos (age 10), Jacinta Marto (age 7), and Francisco Marto (age 9). The statue stands 104 centimeters tall, carved from Brazilian cedar wood based on the children's descriptions. It was solemnly crowned on May 13, 1946, and the bullet that struck John Paul II in the 1981 assassination attempt was later embedded in its crown.

Return and Ongoing Celebrations

The image of Our Lady is set to return to Fátima, Portugal, this Sunday to participate in the International Anniversary Pilgrimage on October 12th and 13th, commemorating the sixth apparition of Our Lady to the Three Shepherd Children. Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna of Beira, Mozambique, will preside over the pilgrimage, which has 138 confirmed pilgrim groups from over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Italy currently leads in the number of registered groups and pilgrims, followed by Spain, France, Poland, and Vietnam.