Religion & Fátima

Portugal is a predominantly Catholic country — around 80% of the population is baptized, even though regular church attendance (especially in the south and in cities) is steadily declining. In the conservative north, faith is still firmly anchored in everyday life: village churches are full on Sundays, religious festivals structure the year, and in some places, women still wear black.

The most important pilgrimage site is Fátima, where in 1917, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to three shepherd children. Today, Fátima is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world — millions of pilgrims come annually, especially on May 13 and October 13. Many cover the final meters on their knees. The huge basilica and forecourt (larger than St. Peter's Square in Rome) can be overwhelming for unprepared visitors.

Besides official Catholicism, a rich folk religiosity thrives. The Festas (village festivals in honor of patron saints) are omnipresent in summer: processions with saint figures, brass bands, fireworks, grilled sardines, and plenty of wine. The most famous is the Festa de Santo António on June 12/13 in Lisbon — a city festival with sardines, music, and dance in every district.

At the same time, Portugal is surprisingly progressive in social matters for a Catholic country: abortion was legalized in 2007, same-sex marriage was introduced in 2010 (as the fourth country worldwide), and drug consumption was decriminalized as early as 2001 — a model considered successful internationally. This contradiction between conservative religiosity and progressive legislation is typically Portuguese.