The story of the Third Secret of Fatima begins in 1917, when three young shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary near the village of Fatima, Portugal. Mary’s message was simple yet profound: pray the rosary for world peace, the end of World War I, and the conversion of Russia. Along with this plea came three secrets, which were not to be revealed until decades later.

The first secret was a vision of hell, terrifying in its graphic depiction of the souls of the damned. The second secret foretold the rise of communism, two world wars, and a call for repentance to avoid widespread suffering. These two secrets were eventually made public, but it was the third secret that remained shrouded in mystery, sparking endless speculation and conspiracy theories.

Sister Lucia, the last surviving visionary, was entrusted with the secrets. In 1943, after falling ill, she was ordered to write down the Third Secret. She complied, sealing it in an envelope and handing it over to the Bishop of Leiria. The bishop, however, never opened it. Instead, the envelope was transferred to the Vatican’s secret archives in 1957.

Pope John XXIII received the envelope in 1959 but hesitated to open it. He ultimately chose not to disclose its contents, returning the envelope to the Holy Office. Years later, Pope Paul VI read the secret but also decided against making it public. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that Pope John Paul II authorized its release—yet even then, the full truth was not revealed.

Why such caution? What could be so disturbing that popes would refuse to reveal it? The answer lies partly in events that unfolded decades later. On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt, shot four times in St. Peter’s Square. After regaining consciousness, he requested the envelope containing the Third Secret.

According to the pope, the secret described a vision of a “bishop dressed in white” who was struck down by bullets and arrows but did not die. John Paul II identified himself as this figure, believing that the Virgin Mary’s intervention had saved his life. This miraculous survival was seen as a confirmation of the prophecy.

Yet, this explanation only scratches the surface. The actual text of the Third Secret, as written by Sister Lucia, describes a terrifying scene. An angel with a flaming sword threatens to set the world on fire, but the flames are quenched by the radiance of Our Lady. Then, a procession of bishops, priests, and laypeople ascend a steep mountain to a large cross. The Holy Father is killed by soldiers at the foot of the cross, along with many others.

Beneath the cross, angels gather the blood of martyrs to sprinkle upon the souls making their way to God. The imagery is vivid and chilling, hinting at a future of suffering, martyrdom, and profound crisis within the Church.

Father Alonso, archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives, who had access to the letter and personally met Sister Lucia, revealed even darker insights. He warned that the terrible events described were not natural disasters or plagues but an internal crisis within the Catholic Church itself. A crisis so deep that it would shake the Church’s very foundations.

According to Father Alonso, many high-ranking church officials would lose faith, reject God’s teachings, and engage in immoral practices. Conflicts would erupt within the Church, leading to the fall of Vatican hierarchies and possibly even the pope himself.

This prophecy seemed to come true in recent years. In August 2018, shocking reports emerged alleging that numerous cardinals were involved in covering up sexual abuse scandals. Among those implicated were key figures who had played roles in the public disclosure of the Third Secret.

At the time of the 2000 announcement, the Church presented the Third Secret as largely fulfilled and no longer a threat. But the reality is far more complex. Our Lady of Fatima’s warning was about a spiritual and moral collapse that continues to unfold.

The Catholic Church today faces unprecedented challenges: internal divisions, loss of faith among clergy and laity, scandals that undermine its moral authority, and a world increasingly hostile to its teachings. The prophetic mission of Fatima was not just about past wars or political upheaval—it was a dire warning about the future.

As the world teeters on the edge of chaos and the Church grapples with its own crises, the message of Fatima remains urgent. The time to heed this warning is now, before the darkness foretold becomes irreversible. The Third Secret was not just a prophecy but a call to repentance and renewal—a call that the Church and the faithful cannot afford to ignore any longer.