Tens of thousands flock to Fatima for rain-soaked Mass with pope, centerpiece of Portugal trip
By APThursday, May 13, 2010
Thousands flock in rain to Fatima for papal Mass
FATIMA, Portugal — Tens of thousands of pilgrims are flocking in a downpour to the central Portuguese shrine town of Fatima for Pope Benedict XVI’s Mass celebrating the anniversary of the day when three shepherd children reported seeing visions of the Virgin.
Thursday’s outdoor Mass is the centerpiece of Benedict’s four-day visit to Portugal. It follows an evening, candlelit prayer service in which the pontiff said he was bringing the suffering “of a wounded humanity, of the problems of the world” to Fatima.
Benedict has spoken repeatedly about the sufferings of the world and even the church during the trip, saying the “sins of the church” were responsible for the clerical sex abuse scandal.
Benedict returns to the Vatican on Friday.
