(22 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fatima, Portugal – 21 September 2025
1. Various of motorcyclists arriving at Fatima shrine
2. Various of motorcyclists carrying their helmets
3. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Father Carlos Cabecinhas, Rector of the Sanctuary of Fatima:
“Over the years, this helmet blessing pilgrimage has become one of the largest pilgrimages to the Shrine of Fatima. This is the tenth edition of this pilgrimage, and it brings together thousands of motorcyclists from all over the country, but also from other countries.”
4. Various of start of procession, priests carrying helmets
5. Close of Our Lady of Fatima statue
6. Various of Our Lady of Fatima’s statue being carried by priests and motorcyclists
7. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Father Carlos Cabecinhas, Rector of the Sanctuary of Fatima:
“It’s an occasion for gathering and fellowship, expressing faith. It’s a moment when they ask for God’s blessing and help for their lives, while remaining attentive to the needs of those around them. Hence, the dimension of solidarity that always accompanies this pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets.”
8. Wide pan of church to crowd of motorcyclists attending Mass
9. Motorcyclists attending Mass
10. Small dog with helmet and dark glasses
11. Various of motorcyclists at shrine during Mass
12. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Marlene Seabra, motorcyclist pilgrim:
“I think it is the faith that unites us, that brings us protection and, in my case, whenever I get on my motorcycle, I ask Our Lady to protect me.”
13. Various of people walking and receiving communion
14. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Manuel Santos, motorcyclist pilgrim:
“It is the devotion we have to Our Lady who always opens our paths on the road where we ride on two wheels and who always protects us, and so we make this pilgrimage every year because we have faith that she is always watching over us.”
15. Various of procession of motor clubs’ banners
16. Various of crowd of motorcyclists holding helmets above heads during blessing
17. Various of police officers holding their helmets above heads during blessing
18. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Marta Moreira, motorcyclist pilgrim:
“(What brings us here) is above all faith. Faith, companionship, unity. But for me, it is mainly faith, it is faith that moves us.”
19. Motorcyclists holding helmets above heads during blessing
20. Various of priests during blessing of helmets
21. Close of hand with rosary beads
22. Woman with rosary praying
STORYLINE:
Motorcycle rallies have a reputation for beer drinking, rock ‘n’ roll and perhaps the odd brawl.
But at an annual gathering in northern Portugal, the strongest tipple is a sip of communion wine and the music is strictly hymns set to a church organ.
Over the weekend, an estimated 180,000 members of Portugal’s motorcycling community converged on the Fatima shrine for the so-called Blessing of the Helmets.
The pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Fatima, now in its 10th year, aims to bestow bikers with a sense of spiritual protection from the Virgin Mary as they ride across Portugal’s open roads.
They participated in a talk on road security and faith, and attended Mass, some with their helmets lifted in order to receive the host.
But the rally’s highlight was the blessing, when priests walked through the sea of leather-clad pilgrims and sprinkled holy water on the helmets held aloft.
“We make this pilgrimage every year because we have faith that she is always watching over us,” 49-year-old Manuel Santos said.
Most were minor incidents, but there also were 120 deaths.
AP video by Jorge Jeronimo
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