The Sanctuary of Fátima will receive on September 20 thousands of motorcyclists for the 11th Helmet Blessing Pilgrimage, an event dedicated to prayer and fellowship among motorcycling practitioners. The main celebration will take place at Cova da Iria and will be presided over by the Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Rui Valério.
The major novelty of this edition is the expansion of the initiative for the first time to Madeira and the Azores. On the same day, the dioceses of Angra and Funchal will host the Helmet Blessing in a manner identical to that of Fátima, through a partnership between ABC (Associação Bênção dos Capacetes) and the local motorcycle clubs of each territory.
The motorcyclists will have an active participation in the celebrations, providing services such as welcoming pilgrims, reciting the Rosary, transporting the processional litter, proclaiming the readings, and assisting with the distribution of Communion. In 2025, the Prayer Ground received approximately 180,000 motorcyclists.
The rector of the Sanctuary of Fátima, Father Carlos Cabecinhas, addressed a message to the participants inviting them to this moment of encounter and fellowship, which also includes a prayer for those who have lost their lives in road accidents. The leader called for special care and prudence on the roads so that everyone can arrive and depart safely.
