Since the second apparition of Our Lady in June 1917, the nearest inhabitants began to accompany the Shepherd Children to the Cova da Iria. This accompaniment marked the beginning of a growing relationship between the faithful and the site of the apparitions.
In the years and decades that followed, crowds of pilgrims from across the country and abroad traveled to Fatima using different vehicles. This mass arrival of pilgrims marked a new phase in the development of the shrine.
In this evolutionary context, the practice of blessing vehicles at the Sanctuary of Fatima grew. This tradition became a way for pilgrims to receive a special blessing for their journeys and vehicles.
