Pope Francis on Friday
landed at the Monte Real airbase to kick off a two-day trip to
Portugal.
The pontiff is set to travel to Fatima, a shrine where he
plans to make two shepherd children saints on Saturday.
After meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and
visiting the airbase's chapel, the pontiff will fly to Fatima by
helicopter.
Pope Francis welcomed journalists on the papal flight and
described the pilgrimage as "quite special".
It is the 100th anniversary since the two children, Jacinta
and Francisco Marto, reported seeing the Virgin Mary while
tending sheep.
The so-called three secrets of Fatima were written down by a
third child - their cousin Lucia dos Santos - who also reported
seeing Mary and is on the road to beatification.
The Marto children died in the 1918-1919 European flu
pandemic while their cousin passed away in 2005, aged 97.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
