Pilgrims decry ‘satanic exploitation’

FATIMA: Fatima is in tumult as hundreds of thousands pour in for a visit from Pope Francis. Locals around the Portuguese shrine – where the Virgin Mary is reputed to have appeared to three shepherd children 100 years ago – have seized the chance to raise prices, drawing accusations of “satanic exploitation”.

Marilia Correia spent the past fortnight waiting for the pope to mark the 100th anniversary of the apparition today.

“We arrived early to avoid the chaos,” the 76-year-old said.

She and her husband travelled the 200km from Vila Nova de Gaia to Fatima in the centre of Portugal, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in 1917, for the event.

According to the Catholic Church, some 45 000 pilgrims arrived on foot for the pope’s visit this weekend.

Carlos, 65, Miguel, 60, and Antonio, 56, came by bicycle, starting out from the Vatican and completing the 3 000km on Thursday.

“Cycling against war”, is how Carlos saw their trip.

The estimate of eight million visitors put out by the regional chamber of commerce is presumably way too high. The RTP television broadcaster’s guess of at least a million was likely to be closer.

The particular problem for this town of some 11 500 inhabitants is that there are just 7 500 hotel beds to cater to the crowds.

The Jor nal de Noticias newspaper has reported that a guesthouse charged 920 euros (R12 320) for a night stay in a double sleeping bag.

The Rosa Mistica guesthouse is offering a double room for 1 650 – without breakfast.

The Hotel Lux Fatima Park, where a room normally costs between 50 and 60, is demanding 2 000.

Prices shot up even in Lisbon, which is 130km away.

Many Portuguese are outraged, as shown by a wave of protest in the media at the “extortion” and “deception”. Others have railed against “scandalous prices” and “satanic exploitation” of the faithful.

Maria Tereza Lameiras, a marketing expert from Lisbon who is making the pilgrimage to Fatima along with a group from her fitness studio, expressed understanding for the phenomenon.

“The laws of supply and demand are operating,” she told dpa, while simultaneously urging religious solidarity.

“Why should only those who are better off be able to see the pope? Faith is for everyone,” Lameiras said.

The price rises have affected bus rental prices as well. Nevertheless almost all the 3 000 buses in the region were booked months ago. – dpa