In 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children claimed that they had seen Mary,
Mother of Jesus, outside the village of Fatima. The children spoke of a dire secret about the future of mankind which could only be revealed gradually to an unbelieving world. Over the last 60 years, speculation has run rife.
Does the secret contain a blueprint for survival which will save the world on the brink of a third and final war? Or is Fatima a pious apocalyptic fraud?
Daniel Counihan looks at the facts, faith and folly behind the message of Fatima.