(LifeSiteNews) – In preparation for the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope Francis on March 25, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, called the Pilgrim Virgin Statue, has been sent to Lviv in Ukraine.
The statue is a replica of the original image of Our Lady venerated at Fatima. It was sent from the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, stopping briefly in Krakow, Poland, and arriving in Lviv, Ukraine on March 16. It was received by the local Greek Catholic Archbishop Ihor Vozniak, whose proposal on February 24 initiated the Marian pilgrimage.
Upon sending the statue of the Pilgrim Virgin from Fatima, Father Joaquim Ganhão, one of the chaplains of the shrine in Fatima, said that, “War is not to be answered with war, evil is not to be answered with evil, hatred is not to be answered with hatred. We must open our doors and recognize that the other is not our enemy, the other is not our rival, but is our brother, with whom we must build history, build peace.”
There are only 13 copies of the Pilgrim Virgin statue. The first was solemnly crowned by the Archbishop of Evora, May 13, 1947. Since then the statue has been sent all over the world to spread Our Lady’s message and foster devotion to the rosary. It was sculpted by José Ferreira Tedin, following the instructions of Sister Lúcia. After the attempted assassination of Pope St. John Paul II in 1981, the Pontiff placed one of the bullets that wounded him within the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in thanksgiving for her protection.
Pope Francis has asked all the bishops of the world to join him on March 25 in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 5:00 p.m. Roman time. Whether Pope St. John Paul II actually fulfilled the request of Our Lady of Fatima that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart is a controversial topic amongst Catholics. Pope Francis yesterday said he would be consecrating “humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine,” on March 25, but the text of the actual consecration prayer he will use has not yet been released.
See here a list to date of bishops who have announced that they will join the Holy Father in this act of consecration. Please ask your own bishop to join him as well.