For Father Carlos Cabecinhas, in a video message released by the Blessing of Helmets Association (ABC) on its Facebook page, “the blessing of helmets has become in recent years one of the great events and one of the great pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Fátima”.

In 2022, it is estimated that around 160,000 motorcyclists were present.

“It is a time to reunite, a time to see friends again (…), but also a time to pray, a time to ask for God’s protection”, said the rector of the Sanctuary of Fátima, urging participants to be “particularly attentive to safety conditions”, in view of road accidents involving motorcyclists.

The 9th Helmet Blessing Pilgrimage is being organised by Grupo de Motoizadas As Mal Estimadas, Associação Motociclistas Esquadra Eclética das Forças Segurança, Clube Motard Os 300, Grupo Motard Moto Andanças, Moteros de Hoy, Grupo Motard Matuzas de Ponte Sor and the motorcycle clubs of Seixal, Borba, Mértola and the Municipality of Portel.

The pilgrimage will begin at 10:30 am, with a gathering for the pilgrimage of banners at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, followed by mass at the altar of the site at 11:00 am.

Merchandise will be on sale in conjunction with the pilgrimage, with proceeds going towards the purchase of an adapted wheelchair for a 23-year-old resident of Peniche, who became paraplegic following a motorcycle accident in 2021.

Raising funds for a social cause has long been a tradition associated with the Blessing of the Helmets Pilgrimage.