On November 13, the monument to Our Lady of Fatima has been inaugurated in the Nossa Senhora de Fatima neighborhood of Crato, Ceará State, Brazil, according to the Prefecture of Crato.

The radio station O Povo de Ceará in Fortaleza issued in February the statement by the municipality of Crato, regarding the postponement of the inauguration for the second time, initially scheduled for May 13. The sculptor attributed the delay to heavy rains in the region. The new date has been moved to November.

 The first pieces crafted by sculptor Ranilson Viana arrived in Crato from the city of Petrolina in Pernambuco. The monument to Our Lady of Fatima, composed of several levels that will be assembled, rises 51 meters. The first pieces will be installed in October.

The assembly phase will be completed in November. The ceremony will be held with an afternoon Mass presided over by the Bishop of Crato, Monsignor Magnus Henrique. Following the liturgical celebration, there will be musical performances by Sister Kelly Patricia, founder of the Hesed Institute, and by priest and singer-songwriter Father Fabio de Melo.

The inauguration of the statue is part of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope celebrations of the Diocese of Crato, with the support of the local Mayor’s office. The diocese has organized the Diocesan Marian Day from November 10-13 with the pilgrimage of the image of Our Lady of Fatima through parishes, hospitals, and local institutions.

The mayor of Crato emphasized that devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is deeply rooted in the town’s history. 72 years ago, the city received a visit of the pilgrim statue from Portugal, which consolidated Marian devotion among the residents. The recently inaugurated airport was dedicated to Our Lady. After its closure, the land housed the first monument to the Patroness. Since then, other spaces such as schools, daycare centers, streets, and a neighborhood have been named in honor of Our Lady.

The monument is located in the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, which includes a replica of the Chapel of the Apparitions of Fatima in Portugal, which is a pilgrimage center and international Marian reference point.