History Basilica of the Holy Trinity (Fátima)

a perspective of church within perimeter of sanctuary of fátima.



a close-up of church statue/obelisk of sacred heart of jesus.

in 1953, basilica of our lady of rosary of fátima (portuguese: basílica de nossa senhora rosário de fátima) consecrated.

situated on southeast corner of church,a statue of pope pius xii (sculpted in white marble portuguese sculptor domingos soares branco) first revealed public, in ceremony included formal blessing. statue of pope paul vi erected in may 1968 (created portuguese sculptor joaquim correia) on northwest corner of church.

during 1973 liturgical year, there reports site not handle number of pilgrims on days of relatively minor volumes @ basilica. inauguration of restored statue of d. josé alves correia da silva (by joaquim correia), first bishop of diocese of leiria, on 2 february 1973 proved chaotic , crowded.

in 1974 rector of sanctuary, monsignor luciano guerra, proposed pastoral program include construction of new large, covered assembly area, in order handle pilgrims. but, not until 1996 construction of new church @ complex proposed. in meantime, new religious symbols , reliquaries added sanctuary, including silver ostensorium sculptor zulmiro de carvalho, in main chapel of holy sacramento (portuguese: capela santíssimo sacramento).

in 1997, sanctuary organized international design competition proposals new church: international jury selected design of greek architect alexandros tombazis on 19 december 1998. work on new church began in february 2004, cornerstone installed on 6 june of same year. first stone, laid serafim ferreira e silva, retired bishop of diocese of leiria-fátima, blessed , donated pope john paul ii on 9 march 2004. came marble fragment of apostle peter s tomb, located under basilica in rome. placing of cornerstone symbolic act, marble stone later placed on display within finished church visiting pilgrims.

the church dedicated on 12 october 2007, in company of cardinal tarcisio bertone, secretary-of-state vatican , then-legate pope benedict xvi, part of closing ceremonies dedicated 90th anniversary of marian apparitions of fátima.

on 2 june 2008 inauguration of 14 stations of via lucis, executed italian artist vanni rinaldi. @ same time, 3-metre (9.8 ft) image of nossa senhora de fátima in carrara marble executed italian sculptor benedetto pietrogrande , installed in interior of church. 2008 several artistic projects carried out various international contributors. large 500-square-metre (5,400 sq ft) gilded terracotta panels in presbytery painted group of artists specializing in liturgical art. came 8 nations , 4 christian churches, based in pontifical oriental institute in rome. work created , supervised slovenian artist marko ivan rupnik.

on walls of confessional, azulejo panels, representing episodes in life of saints peter , paul, architect Álvaro siza vieira, mounted. statute of pope john paul ii polish sculptor czeslaw dzwigaj, installed on grounds in 2008 northeast of church. weathered steel cross, located in church interior, approximately 34 metres (112 ft) high , 17 metres (56 ft) wide, mounted @ time german sculptor robert schad. suspended sculpture cypriot artist maria loizidou placed in entrance portico, while execution of 8-metre (26 ft) doors in bronze, , panels rosary, portuguese artist pedro calapez, completed; , 8-metre (26 ft) lateral doors in bronze, dedicated twelve apostles of christ, text portuguese artist francisco providência, installed. meanwhile, stained glass panels bible verses in 6 languages installed canadian artist kerry joe kelly, , bronze crucifix, suspended on main altar, made irish artist catherine green.

on 19 june 2012, congregation divine worship , discipline of sacraments sent word church elevated status of minor basilica, came effect on 13 august 2012.