Appendix I 

The Third Secret of Fatima 

    1.  On June 26 of A.D. 2000, the Vatican released the text of the third part 

of the secret of Fatima. Along with the text, the Vatican included an 

interpretation of the third part of the secret written by Joseph Cardinal 

Ratzinger (Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). 

According to the Catholic Free Press (June 30, 2000):  At a Vatican press 

conference, Cardinal Ratzinger said, `There does not exist an official 

definition or official interpretation of this vision on the part of the 

church.'  

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 Cardinal Ratzinger s interpretation is therefore unofficial. His 

interpretation does contain numerous good insights into the symbolism and 

meaning of the third secret of Fatima. I encourage everyone interested in 

Fatima to read it on the Vatican web page.

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    2.  Pope John Paul II has publicly stated that he believes this part of the 

secret of Fatima refers in part to the failed attempt on his life on May 13 of 

1981. One of the apparitions at Fatima occurred on May 13. However, it is 

clear from the text of the secret that the account of the martyrdoms of 

Bishops, priests, religious, and laypersons refers to much more than the 

martyrdom of one individual:  

 J.M.J.  

The third part of the secret revealed at the Cova da Iria Fatima, on 13 July 

1917.  

I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me to do so through 

his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother 

and mine.  

After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady 

and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; 

flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world 

on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady 

radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his 

right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: `Penance, Penance, 

Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: `something similar