(ZENIT News / Fatima, 09.02.2025).- In 2024, the number of pilgrims to the Fatima Shrine again surpassed six million. 6.2 million faithful took part in at least one celebration, criterion on which the annual registration of pilgrims is based. The statistical data was presented on Thursday, February 6m during the 46th Meeting of Hoteliers, which gathered in the Paul VI Pastoral Center those in charge of the Religious Houses, which welcome pilgrims in Fatima.
The number of faithful that visited the Shrine in 2024 decreased from the 6.8 million that registered the previous year. However, the year 2023 cannot be analyzed without the effect of the World Youth Day (WYD) and Pope Francis’ visit to Fatima. Between July 24 and August 10 of last year, more than one million faithful went in Cova de Iria. Extracting the impact of these significant moments from the statistics of 2023, it can be observed that, in 2024, the Shrine did not register a decrease but rather an increase in the number of pilgrims.
In 2024, information centers attended 13.6% more pilgrims than in 2023, up to a total of 415,902 people.
The number of celebrations also increased in 2024: there were 10,813, namely, 1,256 more than in 2023. The greatest growth was in the private celebrations: from 4,939 in 2023 to 6,184 in 2024.
Analyzing organized groups of pilgrims, namely, those that registered for the Shrine’s services, observed is that, in 2024 , 5,231 people travelled to Fatima. This figure implies an increase of 9.5% in regard to 2023.
Observed from the groups registered is that the Shrine welcomed more organized pilgrimages from abroad than from Portugal. There were 1,213 from Portugal and 4,018 from other countries.
However, the national groups continue to be the most numerous: in 2024 they included 435,609 pilgrims, and foreign groups included 174,891 pilgrims. It’s easy to appreciate this difference if one takes into account that a diocese’s pilgrimage can include 500 pilgrims..
Visitors’ Demography
There were 88 countries among the groups of pilgrims that visited Fatima from abroad. This indicator decreased in regard to 2023, year in which the Shrine welcomed pilgrims from 94 countries. Evident here once again is the effect of the WYD.
The number of countries in 2024 continued to be higher than in 2022 and 2019, which registered 76 and 82 countries respectively.
The Continents most represented in 2024 were Europe, America and Asia. 54% of pilgrims’ groups were European. They came primarily and in this order from Spain, Poland and Italy. There was an inversion between the 2nd and 3rd place.
27% of the organized groups came from the American Continent. The United States headed the list, followed by Brazil and Mexico. The order remained unchanged in regard to last year.
Asia arises as the third Continent, representing 17%. The largest groups were from the Philippines, South Korea and India, country that displaced Vietnam from the third place it had the previous year. In 2024, India was in the fourth place in the context of Asia.
Observed, glancing back in time to the year 2010, is that in 2024 the Shrine welcomed for the first time, organized groups from three countries: Bahrein, Belize and Montenegro.
In regard to the Portuguese groups, the dioceses with the largest representation were : Lisbon, with 319 pilgrimages that brought 23,069 pilgrims to Fatima; Oporto with 190 pilgrimages and 22,229 pilgrims; and Braga with 124 pilgrimages and 28,909 pilgrims.
What Do Pilgrims Do in Fatima?
Another relevant fact is the time of year that groups choose to come to Fatima.
Observed in the case of the Portuguese, is that May, October and June are, in this order, the months with the largest affluence of groups. However, September is outstanding for the number of pilgrims: 221,083, a figure that the Blessings of the Helmets, which increasingly mobilizes motorists, contributes strongly.
Among the foreign groups, the months of October, September and May, in that order, appear to be those preferred.
In the course of the year, photographic records of the crowds suggested what the Shrine’s services confirmed, now that the year is being analyzed. What pilgrims most prefer to do in Fatima is, in this order, to participate in official Masses in the Shrine and the Rosary, followed by the Procession of Candles.
Moreover, to the official celebrations in the Shrine must be added an important number of private celebrations.
In 2024 there were 37 marriages, 162 baptisms and 565 wedding anniversaries: 288 silver, 240 gold and 37 diamond.
Search for Cultural and Social Aspects
Many people also travel to Fatima for its cultural aspects. The home of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto was the museum space that registered the greatest demand, with 411,006 visitors, followed by Lucia’s home with 229,669 visitors, a surprising figure taking into account that it was closed between January 1 and July 4 for renovation works. The Shrine’s Museum and the two temporal exhibitions that were visited in 2024 registered a total of 283,845 visitors.
2024 was the second year in which the Lucia of Jesus Listening Center was functioning, located in the lower floor of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.
The number of services offered confirms the necessity and pertinence of this service. 1,903 people were attended (1,358 women and 545 men). The predominant age group was 45-60 years old
Translation of the Portuguese original into Spanish by ZENIT’s Editorial Director and, into English, by Virginia M. Forrester.
