25,000 children made a pilgrimage to Fátima in search of God

25,000 children made a pilgrimage to Fátima in search of God

Young pilgrims were challenged to seek Jesus through the eyes of love, following the example of Sister Lúcia.

Around 25,000 children from across the country gathered today at the Sanctuary of Fátima to participate in the Children's Pilgrimage, themed "And You? Do You Want to See God?".

Bishop Rui Gouveia, auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon, is presiding over the pilgrimage, where the young pilgrims are challenged to look to the life and devotion of Sister Lúcia of Jesus to see God and reflect His light.

In his brief, conversational homily, the main celebrant drew from Zacchaeus's effort and curiosity, which led to a radical transformation in his life, to challenge the children to seek Jesus through the eyes of love.

"Today, by coming to the Sanctuary, we are called to learn from Zacchaeus to desire God deep in our hearts and to make every effort to seek Him and love just as He loves," Bishop Rui Gouveia said, highlighting the faith and devotion to God shown by the Little Shepherds.

"Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, in their desire for Jesus, put on a sort of glasses to see what was invisible, a result of their desire, their search, and this believing and loving like Jesus," the auxiliary bishop of Lisbon reminded them.

The main appeal Bishop Rui Gouveia made to the little ones was to embrace this effort and inner desire to see God, accepting the changes that this attitude of devotion and love brings to each person's life, just as it happened with Zacchaeus.

"This experience for Zacchaeus was so incredibly powerful that his life completely changed. He sought the truth, sought to do what was right, and not to deceive anyone. He started seeing life differently, in a much clearer way. It was as if a light had turned on in his life, and he began to see himself differently," the main celebrant explained, inviting the children to adopt the same willingness through a short prayer.

"Jesus, I want to see God," the congregation of young pilgrims repeated at the end of the homily. Right after, on a large pair of glasses decorating the altar—similar to those worn by Sister Lúcia—the message they had just embraced appeared: "I want to see God."