“The main objective of this operation is to ensure the provision of assistance and aid to thousands of pilgrims traveling to the Sanctuary of Fátima for religious ceremonies,” the statement explained.
The ANEPC, through the Médio Tejo Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command, will launch “Operation Fátima 2025” on Monday.
Civil Protection emphasized in the statement that the mission of this operation is to enhance the capacity and speed of response of the devices that integrate the Integrated System of Protection and Relief Operations (SIOPS) and the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIEM).
The operation also aims to ensure effective and permanent institutional coordination within the framework of civil protection structures, guarantee the mobilization, readiness, engagement, and management of protection and relief resources, as well as to anticipate specialized reinforcement needs through pre-positioning of operational resources.
“A flexible planning matrix will be adopted, based on an operational methodology that mitigates the impact caused by the large influx of citizens to celebration sites,” it was noted.
More than 300 operatives are involved in the operation, including 170 from various local fire departments, with support from Ourém’s Municipal Civil Protection Service, the ANEPC’s Special Civil Protection Force, INEM, the Portuguese Red Cross, GNR, the National Scout Corps, the Association of Servites of Our Lady of Fátima, and local health units from the Leiria and Médio Tejo region.
“The ANEPC guarantees operational command of all forces and entities integrated into the device, within SIOPS, through the Operational Command Post installed at Saint Michael’s College, in Fátima, on D. João Pereira Venâncio street,” it specified.
The pilgrimage on May 12th and 13th, Monday and Tuesday, to the Sanctuary of Fátima will be presided over by Brazilian Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Metropolitan Archbishop of Porto Alegre and President of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops and of the Latin American Episcopal Council.
This is the year’s first major pilgrimage to the country’s largest Marian temple, occurring three weeks after the death of Pope Francis, who visited the sanctuary in 2017 (during the centenary of the events at Cova da Iria and the canonization of shepherd children Francisco and Jacinta Marto) and in 2023 (as part of the World Youth Day in Lisbon).
It also takes place days after the appointment of the new Pope, Leo XIV.
