"I Saw the Holy Father..."

On one occasion, at about midday, near the well of the house of Lucia's parents, Jacinta asked Lucia, "Did you not see the Holy Father?"

"No."

"I cannot say how, but I saw the Holy Father in a very large house, kneeling beside a table with his hands on his face. He was crying. Many people were outside the house. Some were throwing stones at him; others were cursing him and saying foul words to him. Poor Holy Father, we have to pray much for him!" ⁴⁵

On an afternoon in August 1917, while the seers were sitting on the boulders of the knoll of Cabeço, Jacinta suddenly began to say the prayer the angel had taught them and, after a deep silence, said to her cousin: "Do you not see so many thoroughfares, roads, and fields full of people weeping with hunger and having nothing to eat? And the Holy Father praying in a church before the Immaculate Heart of Mary? And many people praying with him?" ⁴⁶

Sister Lucia adds:

“Some days later, she asked me:

“‘Can I say that I saw the Holy Father and all those people?’

“‘No. Don’t you see that this is part of the secret?! That would give it away!’

“‘Alright, then I will not say anything’.” ⁴⁷

Lucia, in Jacinta's home one day, found her very pensive and asked her, "Jacinta, what are you thinking about?"

"About the war that is to come. So many will die! And almost all of them will go to hell! Many homes will be razed, and many priests will be killed. Listen, I am going to heaven, and when one night you see the light the Lady told us would appear before all this, you flee to heaven also.” ⁴⁸