In Portugal, Pope will address spiritual and political challenges

(May6, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI's four-day visit to Portugal will focus on spiritual, political and economic questions seen as crucial for the country and the rest of modern Europe. The May 11-14 trip is first of all a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Fatima, where three young shepherd children had visions of Mary in 1917. In the pope's view, Mary's appearances in human history are an important sign for the church and the world, a much-needed invitation to conversion. On a political level, the Pontiff will visit Portugal at a time when cultural change is challenging the country's Catholic identity, as the church is concerned about erosion of traditional moral values, especially among the young. Finally, the pope's visit coincides with an economic downturn in Portugal that has threatened to make it the next crisis zone in the European Union. The pope will have an opportunity to revisit one of his favourite themes: European unity built solely on financial interests is bound to fail. Pope’s schedule in Portugal includes 17 major events and at least 11 speeches. On May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the pope will celebrate Mass outside the shrine and afterward go inside to visit the tombs of the three shepherd visionaries. His visit marks the 10th anniversary of the beatification of Francisco and Jacinta Marto. There has been speculation that during the visit that the pope may announce the future beatification of Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos who died in 2005. About 90 percent of Portugal's population professes Catholicism, but the church's declining influence in public policy and dropping birth rate, one of the lowest in the world, also worries church leaders.