A sign of Hope in Syria: The City of Aleppo Was Consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima

ROME, May 15. 17 (ACI) .- The city of Aleppo, released from the control of rebels and jihadist groups at the end of 2016, but still suffering the consequences of the civil war in Syria, was consecrated this May 13 to Our Lady of Fatima, on the commemoration of the 100 years of this apparition in Portugal.

The Mass of consecration took place in the Latin Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, which is also known as the Latin Church of the Franciscans.

The Mass was celebrated on the same day of the canonization of the shepherds Saint Francisco Marto and Saint Jacinta Marto in the Sanctuary of Fatima.

According to the Latin Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi on its Facebook page, an image of Our Lady of Fatima was present at the Mass of consecration, that was sent directly from the sanctuary in Portugal.

After it, the image was taken in procession by the Christian neighborhood of al-Azizieh, that suffered constant attacks of the rebel groups.

Through their Facebook page, SOS Christians in Syria pointed out that the temple was full of worshipers and that they were happy and excited because there had not been a procession with the image of Our Lady of Fatima since many years ago.

"Let us give thanks to God for this day of heaven that we had the chance to live and entrust the Christians of Aleppo to our Blessed Mother. May she, Queen of Peace, since she gave the Prince of Peace to the world, grant us the long-sought peace for the Middle East and the whole world.”

The consecration of Aleppo was part of the program of activities organized by the Latin Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima.

The cathedral indicated through its Facebook page that the celebrations began on the 11th with a community prayer and a procession with the image of Our Lady sent from Fatima.

"Many of us cry because after six years we can re-organize the procession through the streets of Aleppo without fear of missiles. We welcome with emotion Our Lady of Fatima in Aleppo and hope that the Virgin Mary will pray for peace for all of Syria," they said.

On October 13, 2016, at the closing of the last international pilgrimage of the year in the Shrine of Fatima, the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, Antonio Marto, blessed an image that would be sent to the "martyr diocese" of Aleppo.

Nowadays in this city the living conditions are very hard because food is scarce, and drugs, water and electricity services have not yet been restored.