Among the countries that most visited Fatima during 2021 were Spain, Poland, Italy, the United States and France.
Newsroom (07/03/2022 8:00, Gaudium Press) The rector of the Shrine of Fatima, Father Carlos Manuel Pedrosa Cabecinhas, presented some statistical data for the year 2021. The presentation of the numbers occurred within the 43rd Meeting of Hoteliers held at the Portuguese Shrine.
Increase in the number of pilgrims and celebrations
After almost six months without any movement between 2020 and 2021, and three months with many mobility restrictions that prevented people from going to the Cova da Iria, the Shrine closed 2021 with a record of 2.4 million pilgrims.
There was an increase in the number of celebrations, especially private ones, compared to 2020: there were 5,077 celebrations, 693 more than in 2020. In addition, 1,036 organized pilgrimages (72,398 pilgrims) were recorded in 2021, 500 more than in 2020. Among the organized pilgrimages in 2021, 601 were foreign (23,618 pilgrims) and 435 were Portuguese (48,780 pilgrims), an increase of 93.3%.
Decrease if data is compared with 2019
However, if the numbers are compared with those of 2019, one will notice a 76.4% decrease in the presence of pilgrims going to the Cova da Iria in an organized way and in groups, in addition to the overall numbers: 2.4 million in 2021 and 6.3 million in 2019. Since 2010, when the Centennial celebrations began, the average number of pilgrims has been between 5 and 7 million participating in the celebrations, except in 2017 – the year of the centennial, with the presence of the Pope for the canonization of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto – which had more than 9 million pilgrims in Fatima.
October was the month with the most pilgrimages – 131 – and with the most pilgrims – 13,872 – followed by May with 61 pilgrimages and September with 55. 52 pilgrimages were still registered in November.
Countries that most visited Fátima in 2021
Among the three countries that most visited Fatima in 2021 are Spain with 319 groups (13,024 pilgrims), Poland with 71 groups (2,450 pilgrims), and Italy with 47 groups (1326 pilgrims). Just behind is the United States with 32 groups (938 pilgrims) and France with 21 (446 pilgrims). From Asia, which until 2019 was a promising market, 14 groups came, and almost all from the diaspora: Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea, only one group signed up, with five pilgrims.
Prayer for peace in Ukraine
“The year that has ended and of whose numbers we present to you today nurtures this hope, despite the fact that the days continue to be dark, now with a war on our doorstep, involving so many brothers and sisters who habitually visit us in Fatima,” highlighted the Rector.
“At the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, Lady of Peace, we will continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, but also in all the places where war continues to make its destructive trail felt. We ask her, once again, to intercede for peace and to make it reach the heart of each of the political decision-makers to become more fraternal, more brotherly, and to lay down their arms,” he concluded. (EPC)
