History of the Cause

Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva started in 1952 the processes of canonization of Francisco and of Jacinta Marto, Little Shepherds of Fatima, who saw Our Lady. He named Postulator Canon João Pereira Venâncio, who had initiated the processes. His successor, Fr. Louis Kondor, SVD, succeeded Canon Venâncio in 1960 and stayed on this job until 2009, year of his death.

The first session of the diocesan process for the inquiry into the virtues took place on April 30, 1952. Jacinta’s process was concluded on July 2, 1979; Francisco’s on August 3, 1979.

In 1979, the Processes were delivered to Rome and, in that same year, Fr. Paolo Molinari, SJ, was named Postulator in urbe (in Rome), and Fr. Louis Kondor, SVD, Postulator extra urbem (outside Rome). In 1988, the Positiones (Positions) on Francisco and on Jacinta Marto were written up.

On May 13, 1989, Pope John Paul II signed the Decree on the “heroicity of virtues” of Francisco and Jacinta Marto.
On June 22, 1999, the miracle that opened the way to the beatification was approved.

On May 13, 2000, a Jubilee Year, Pope John Paul II beatifies, in Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta, the first time, in the history of the Church, that non-martyr children were beatified.

On November 1, 2009, Sister Ângela de Fátima Coelho, ASM, was named Postulator extra urbem.
The current headquarters of this Postulation, is in Fatima, and was inaugurated on February 20, 1963.

On April 4, 2012, a new space in the Internet was inaugurated, with the purpose of reaching more people and to serve all those that, in any part of the world, wish to know these two children and learn from them how to follow and how to love the Heart of Jesus and that of His Mother.