Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonisation of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the shepherd children who witnessed the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, in 1917.
The Vatican press office published a note on Thursday claiming that the Pope had approved the miracle necessary for the canonisation process to move forward. The miracle had already been approved by the scientific commission in February but still had to be analysed by the theological commission.
With this approval all that is needed is for the Pope to choose a date for the official canonisation ceremony. The papal visit to Fátima, in May, for the centenary of the first apparition, is a possibility, but this has not been confirmed. “It would be very special to have it in Fátima, especially for the pilgrims and for the millions who will be following on television and radio”, says sister Ângela Coelho, postulator for the canonisation process, speaking to Portuguese Catholic media group Renascença.
Naturally, she concluded, “the Pope can do so whenever he wishes, he could prefer to do it in Rome, on a date to be determined, along with others”.
The bishop of Fátima, D. António Marto (no relation to the shepherds), said he had been caught by surprise by the timing of the official announcement. The Fátima shrine had already hinted that a decision might be imminent on Wednesday, with rector Fr Cabecinhas saying that it was possible that the canonisation would be approved during the centenary celebrations.
“I was expecting the confirmation of the miracle, considering how well the process was going, but I was surprised when I got the news, I didn’t know it would be today”, said the bishop.
As for the place and date of the ceremony, the bishop leaves the decision entirely to the Pope who, he says, “doesn’t like to be influenced” in this regard.
Francisco, who was 10 when he died, and Jacinta, only 9, will therefore become the youngest non-martyred officially recognised saints in the Catholic Church. Previously the youngest was Saint Dominic Savio, who died aged 14.
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