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“In this hour of judgment, we could not forget the representation of those who suffered and continue to suffer the most, and those who fought and fought for the health of all,” said Cardinal António Marto, during the homily on the first day of the international pilgrimage. May, that happens, in an unprecedented way, without pilgrims facing the covid-19 pandemic.
The cardinal recalled the dead and their families, “the sick, all health professionals, caregivers, the elderly, the poor, families who care or cry, priests, civil protection workers, transportation, cleaning, food and many others.” that they did not sacrifice themselves to sacrifice themselves, like good Samaritans. “
The ceremony took place with a candlelight procession without the usual “sea of light” in the sanctuary, with 700 lamps placed on the floor of the venue.
Feeling like this, António Marto admitted that it is strange to see a night on May 12 “so different” from other nights of pilgrimages in that same room.
The “real seas of light” today seem “a dark desert,” he said.
However, “the site of the sanctuary will be empty, but not deserted,” he emphasized, stressing that this moment, even with the people in his house, is lived “in a spirit of pilgrimage.”
Given the absence of pilgrims, there is also some symbolism in the various moments of celebration, whether they are 21 candles representing the dioceses of Portugal today or a bouquet of flowers that will be present at Wednesday’s celebrations, evoking emigrants and pilgrims from different points of the world. world.
The international pilgrimage in May, which started today, takes place for the first time in its history without pilgrims in the Sanctuary of Fatima, due to the covid-19 pandemic, with only those directly involved in the different celebrations and some guests present . .
The ceremonies end on Wednesday.
