The statue of the Virgin of Fátima will be present in Rome

It’s official! Twelve years after his lastcomer in Rome, the centenary statue of the Virgin present in the chapel of the appearances of the sanctuary of Fátima (Portugal) is back to the Vatican, for the jubilee of Marian spirituality, on October 11 and 12, 2025. An announcement made by the dicastery for evangelization, on February 27.

Bishop Rino Fisichella, propéfet of the dicastery and organizer of the jubilee 2025 “Pilgrims of hope” did not fail to express his joy in a press release, while Pope Francis is still hospitalized. The “presence of the original beloved image of Notre-Dame de Fátima will allow everyone to experience the proximity of the Virgin Mary”, he declared by describing it as “one of the most significant Marian icons for Christians in the world”.

An initiative wanted by the sovereign pontiff himself, in a request made a few months ago, through the Dicastère for evangelization, whose confirmation has been effective since February 27. For Father Carlos Cabecinhas, rector of the Fátima sanctuary, the popular piety of the pope vis-à-vis this statue will bring to the faithful of Notre-Dame “a real stimulant to salute the message of peace that the Virgin Mary to Fátima brought to the world”.

Recalling the objective of this jubilee of October 11 and 12, namely to celebrate Marie as a source of hope and “of Pascale joy, even in the painful times that the world crosses”, continues Father Cabecinhas.

Fourth trip to Rome

This is not the first time that this Brazil cedar statue, designed in 1920, has left Portugal to go to Rome. This had already been the case, at the invitation of François, in 2013 for the Marian day. But also for the great jubilee of the year 2000, or in 1984 for the jubilee of redemption, with John Paul II.

This year, the Virgin will be present in Place Saint-Pierre in Rome, especially during the Sunday mass of October 12, at 10:30 a.m., before returning the same day to the Cova da Iria.