A priest blesses motorcyclists’ helmets during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Helmets lie on the ground at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, as motorcyclists arrive to have their helmets blessed during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
A procession move through the crowd at the end of mass during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Motorcyclists attend mass at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
A motorcyclist holds an umbrella for nun carrying a communion wafer box at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Thousands of motorcyclists converge on Portuguese shrine for annual Blessing of the Helmets
FATIMA, Portugal (AP) 鈥 Motorcycle rallies have a reputation for beer drinking, rock 鈥榥鈥 roll and perhaps the odd brawl. But at an annual gathering in northern Portugal, the strongest tipple is a sip of communion wine and the music is strictly hymns set to a church organ.
A priest blesses motorcyclists’ helmets during the 10th Pilgrimage of the Blessing of Helmets that draws tens of thousands, at the Roman Catholic holy shrine of Fatima, in Fatima, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
By Felipe Bento And Iain Sullivan The Associated Press
FATIMA, Portugal (AP) 鈥 Motorcycle rallies have a reputation for beer drinking, rock 鈥榥鈥 roll and perhaps the odd brawl. But at an annual gathering in northern Portugal, the strongest tipple is a sip of communion wine and the music is strictly hymns set to a church organ.
Over the weekend, an estimated 180,000 members of Portugal鈥檚 motorcycling community converged on the Fatima shrine for the so-called . The pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Fatima, now in its 10th year, aims to bestow bikers with a sense of spiritual protection from the Virgin Mary as they ride across Portugal鈥檚 open roads.
Leather vests creaked as riders walked around the shrine dedicated to the three shepherd children who saw an apparition of the Holy Virgin. They participated in a talk on road security and faith, and attended Mass, some with their helmets lifted in order to receive the host.
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But the rally鈥檚 highlight was the blessing, when priests walked through the sea of leather-clad pilgrims and sprinkled holy water on the helmets held aloft.
鈥淲e make this pilgrimage every year because we have faith that she is always watching over us,鈥 49-year-old Manuel Santos said.
More than 9,900 motorcyclists were involved in crashes in 2024, according to Portugal鈥檚 national road safety authority. Most were minor incidents, but there also were 120 deaths.
鈥淢any of these motorcyclists come to ask for God鈥檚 protection through Our Lady for their trips, but they also come to remember those who have already left, who have already died, many of them in accidents and those who are hurt, those who need help,鈥 said Father Carlos Cabecinhas, the sanctuary’s rector.
The possibility of an accident is never far from the mind of Marlene Seabra, who was wearing a black bandana and leather waistcoat adorned with biker club badges.
鈥淲henever I get on my motorcycle, I ask Our Lady to protect me,鈥 Seabra said.
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Iain Sullivan reported from Madrid.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
