The Pope at World Youth Day

One of the highlights of Pope Francis’s visit to Lisbon, Portugal, for the World Youth Day, is so that he could also hop on a helicopter and visit Fatima, 80 miles away from Lisbon. After meeting various delegations, praying the modern Stations of the Cross with the youth, on Saturday he visits Fatima to lead the Rosary and thank Mary for her intervention in his life. He is also honoring his predecessor Pope St. John Paul II who travelled to Fatima on May 13, 1983, to thank Mary for saving his life when he was shot at the Vatican square 2 years earlier. Today happens to be the feast of the dedication of St. Mary Major, and one should note that before every trip outside Italy, Pope Francis has visited the basilica of St. Mary Major in order to pray before the venerated image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, “Protectress of the Roman People.” He has made more than 100 visits there, making St. Mary Major the most visited place by any recent pope, aside from the papal residences. Thus he is linking two of the great Marian shrines of the world — St. Mary Major and Fatima. The Holy Father chose a Marian theme for WYD Lisbon — Mary went with haste. On Sunday he will celebrate Mass in the presence of more than a million young people in Lisbon, before he returns to Rome.