The Vatican says Pope Francis prayed silently for peace in the Portuguese shrine town of Fatima. The Vatican spokesman was explaining why Francis again ditched his speech during a visit to Fatima. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis “always addresses firstly the people he meets, as a shepherd, and speaks accordingly.” Bruni denied the changes had any other serious reason, including with the pope's eyesight. Francis had travelled to Fatima but didn’t even recite a prayer that had been prepared for the occasion. The Vatican tweeted it instead. Fatima is known for apocalyptic prophecies of hell, peace and Soviet communism that have found new relevance with Russia’s war in Ukraine.
An estimated 1.5 million young people filled a field Saturday in the Portuguese capital for Pope Francis’ World Youth Day vigil, braving scorching heat to secure a spot for the evening prayer and to camp out overnight and be in place for his final farewell Mass on Sunday morning. Temperatures soared to 38 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Saturday in Lisbon and were forecast to top 40 C (104 F) on Sunday. The heat forced pilgrims to shelter under umbrellas and makeshift shades of plastic canvas sheets