Fátima pilgrimage of 13 October

The Fátima pilgrimage of 13 October, known locally as Peregrinação Internacional Aniversária de Outubro, is held at the Shrine of Fátima. It brings together pilgrims who come from a range of countries.

It is also the pilgrimage that closes the yearly cycle of the large international anniversary pilgrimages, which run from May to October.

The pilgrimage takes place in Fátima, in the Santarém region of Portugal. It is expected to run from 12 to 13 October 2027, following a fixed yearly pattern, but the dates are not confirmed yet. The celebrations are expected to be held in the open air at the Sanctuary, with the Eucharistic Procession, the Rosary and the International Mass among them. No ticket is expected to be needed, though this is still an expectation and not a confirmed arrangement.

The programme begins with a Eucharistic procession and the Rosary at the Chapel of the Apparitions. A Candlelight Procession follows, then a Celebration of the Word and the Silence Procession in the prayer area.

Through the night there is a prayer vigil. It includes moments of Eucharistic adoration, veneration of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the Way of the Cross, a Marian celebration and Mass.

After the vigil, a Eucharistic procession in the prayer area is followed by the Rosary at the Chapel of the Apparitions. The morning of the second day ends with the International Mass and the Procession of Farewell in the prayer area.

The pilgrimage commemorates the sixth apparition at the Cova da Iria, which gathered tens of thousands of people. In it, Mary presented herself as Lady of the Rosary.

According to the shrine, Mary asked the shepherd children in that apparition to keep praying the rosary every day.