More than 15,000 faithful of the Catholic Church have been praying at the Our Lady of Fátima Shrine, in the municipality of Namaacha, Maputo province, southern Mozambique, since yesterday (Saturday 11), as part of the annual pilgrimage that this time coincides with the 107th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fátima.

The faithful present in Namaacha represent 43 parishes of the Archdiocese of Maputo, including some communities from the southern provinces of Gaza and Inhambane, who for two days will pray for the well-being of the Mozambican people.

According to the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Maputo, Bishop Tonito Muananua, prayers for the Mozambican people will be placed at the Shrine. "As Christians who live in a country like ours with its joys and challenges, at the feet of Mary, we will place everything that makes us happy and worries us, without forgetting to continue asking for the gift of peace, reconciliation, conversion and fraternity," said the Bishop, quoted by the Mozambican Press. AIM.

"The pilgrimage is a moment of prayer, of penance that should lead us to a profound conversion. It is in the spirit of a profound prayer that leads us to a true conversion of life that we recommend our pilgrims to live the pilgrimage with the rosary in their hands, the name of Mary on their lips and the song of God's mercy in their hearts, so that we can live and walk together knowing each other as brothers," he added.

This year's pilgrimage takes place at a time when Mozambique is preparing to celebrate 50 years of national independence on June 25, 2025.

"As a Mozambican nation, we are preparing to celebrate 50 years of national independence next year. These facts are at the basis of the formulation of the motto that will guide our pilgrimage this year, 2024," he said.