08h30. St. Peter’s Square is already a hive of activity. Thousands of faithful are hurrying to their seats for the audience with the Holy Father. The Alliance des 1ers samedis de Fatima is present, with its members committed throughout the year: the organizers of the 1st Saturdays at the Grande Chartreuse, the Chapelet Perpétuel – always faithful to the rendezvous – Salve Corda, Cap Fatima and other members. The rosary begins as we await the Pope’s arrival, scheduled for 10am. But why are we in Rome?
The answer is simple. Our Lady has promised peace if the faithful observe the first Saturdays of the month, AND if the Pope makes an act of recommendation of this devotion to the whole Church. The Holy Father was informed of this matter on August 22, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On that day, the first cardinal to support the Alliance was received in private audience by the Pope to talk about this request of the Blessed Virgin and its importance for peace. Other approaches to the Vatican followed. For the lay members of the Alliance, the December 10 audience represents a first informal meeting with the Holy Father, during a simple public audience.
At precisely 10am: the Pope’s car appears and begins to drive through St Peter’s Square. The Pope greets the crowd. As he passes the faithful of the Alliance des 1ers samedis, the car stops. The Pope turns his head and stares longingly at the group and its banner on First Saturdays. This silent face-to-face encounter lasts for several seconds. What did he say? A mystery. Then his car sets off again.
At lunch, a new letter is delivered to the secretariat, begging the Pope to carry out the Blessed Virgin’s request. One more step has been taken. The next step is the consistory on January 7, where several cardinals intend to raise with the Pope the question of the First Saturdays requested by Our Lady for peace. More than ever, let us pray for this.
At the end of the public audience, we headed for Sainte-Marie-Majeure to pray in the splendour of the most beautiful basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin on this December 10. Inside, L’Alliance des 1ers samedis continues the rosary in front of one of the oldest Marian icons in Christendom, traditionally attributed to Saint Luke. On February 15, 2026, the 100th anniversary of the second apparition concerning the 1st Saturdays, the Covenant will close this jubilee in the same Basilica.
Meanwhile, in Pontevedra, at the very site of the 1925 apparition, the World Apostolate of Fatima is celebrating the centenary of Our Lady’s request, in union of prayer with pilgrims from Rome. Let’s see how humble this chapel where Our Lady appeared is. And yet it is here that the fate of the world is currently at stake.
“Practicing the first 5 Saturdays of the month could change the destiny of the world.”
Saint Carlo Acutis
