Pope asks for prayers on his visit to Fatima

This morning, the Holy Father mentioned his visit to Fatima on the occasion of the Centennial of the Apparitions. During the general audience at the Vatican, Francis asked for the prayers of everyone and present himself as a pilgrim of hope and peace.                                                                       

“I ask everyone to join me, as pilgrims of hope and peace: that yours hands in prayer keep holding mine”, said Pope Francis, addressing to the faithful who were gathered for the usual Wednesday audience.

In the words addressed to the Portuguese speaking pilgrims, Francis said that he will come to Fatima to “Entrust the temporal and eternal destiny of humanity to Our Lady and to ask through her intercession the blessings of Heaven”.

The Pope dedicated his preaching to Mary, pointing her out as “mother of hope” and a “woman of courage” And added: “she teach us that in times of trouble, when nothing seems to make sense, we always need to keep   confiding and hoping in God”.

Pope Francis will visit Fatima on the 12th and the 13th of May, to preside over the First International Anniversary Pilgrimage of the Centennial of the Apparitions and to preside over the canonisation of the Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto.