Fatima visionaries, Francesco Marto and Jacinta Marto, became the first non-martyr children ever to be declared saints. The two were canonized by Pope Francis in front of thousands of pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal. An excerpt from Pope Francis’ homily given on this 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary:
“Confirmed in this hope, we have gathered here to give thanks for the countless graces bestowed over these past hundred years. All of them passed beneath the mantle of light that Our Lady has spread over the four corners of the earth, beginning with this land of Portugal, so rich in hope. We can take as our examples Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta, whom the Virgin Mary introduced into the immense ocean of God’s light and taught to adore Him. That was the source of their strength in overcoming opposition and suffering. God’s presence became constant in their lives, as is evident from their insistent prayers for sinners and their desire to remain ever near ‘the hidden Jesus’ in the tabernacle.â€
