Fatima seers cleared for canonisation

VATICAN CITY – The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has approved a miracle through the intercession of Francisco and Jacinta Marto—two of the three children who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima.

The decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, released on 23 March 2017 with the approval of Pope Francis, fulfills the requirements for the canonisation of the two Portuguese siblings. Both died in their youth, shortly after the Fatima miracles. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The March 23 decree creates the possibility that Pope Francis could preside at the canonisation of Bl Francisco and Jacinto Marto in May, when the Holy Father will visit the Portuguese shrine to mark the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions.

The third Fatima seer, Lucia Santos, became a Carmelite nun, and lived until 2005. In 2008, a separate cause of beatification was opened for Sister Lucia. Pope Benedict XVI waived the usual five-year waiting period after a candidate’s death for the opening of her cause. – CWN