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The Last Secret of Fatima: The Revelation of One of the Most Controversial Events in Catholic History
With an introduction by Pope Benedict XVI and including information previously suppressed, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, definitively reveals and explains one of the most controversial events in twentieth-century Catholicism—the 1917 apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima.
During World War I, three Portuguese children received a vision in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, foretold great global turmoil. The first part of their vision—warnings about World War II, communism, and the spread of atheism—were widely publicized, but Vatican officials were hesitant to reveal the vision’s concluding images, thus creating the "secret" of Fatima. Speculation about this secret gripped many Catholics, and the aura of intrigue surrounding Fatima grew when the Church hierarchy barred the last surviving visionary from speaking publicly.
In THE LAST SECRET OF FATIMA, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican equivalent of prime minister and a top advisor to Pope Benedict, breaks the Vatican’s official silence on the last secret. Rather than Armageddon, he claims, the final prophecy envisaged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Bertone argues the apparition at Fatima was a call to renewal for the Church, and he was assigned the task of promulgating this message by the Pope.
During World War I, three Portuguese children received a vision in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, foretold great global turmoil. The first part of their vision—warnings about World War II, communism, and the spread of atheism—were widely publicized, but Vatican officials were hesitant to reveal the vision’s concluding images, thus creating the "secret" of Fatima. Speculation about this secret gripped many Catholics, and the aura of intrigue surrounding Fatima grew when the Church hierarchy barred the last surviving visionary from speaking publicly.
In THE LAST SECRET OF FATIMA, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican equivalent of prime minister and a top advisor to Pope Benedict, breaks the Vatican’s official silence on the last secret. Rather than Armageddon, he claims, the final prophecy envisaged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Bertone argues the apparition at Fatima was a call to renewal for the Church, and he was assigned the task of promulgating this message by the Pope.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 6, 2021
If you're familiar with Fatima and the history of the "third secret", this book probably won't offer anything new, bu it's good for people who are new to Fatima and its history.
February 6, 2014
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Book Description:
With an introduction by Pope Benedict XVI and including information previously suppressed, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, definitively reveals and explains one of the most controversial events in twentieth-century Catholicism—the 1917 apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima.
During World War I, three Portuguese children received a vision in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, foretold great global turmoil. The first part of their vision—warnings about World War II, communism, and the spread of atheism—were widely publicized, but Vatican officials were hesitant to reveal the vision’s concluding images, thus creating the "secret" of Fatima. Speculation about this secret gripped many Catholics, and the aura of intrigue surrounding Fatima grew when the Church hierarchy barred the last surviving visionary from speaking publicly.
In THE LAST SECRET OF FATIMA, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican equivalent of prime minister and a top advisor to Pope Benedict, breaks the Vatican’s official silence on the last secret. Rather than Armageddon, he claims, the final prophecy envisaged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Bertone argues the apparition at Fatima was a call to renewal for the Church, and he was assigned the task of promulgating this message by the Pope.
My Thoughts:
The Last Secret of Fatima By Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone reveals and explains the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima. Three Portuguese children see the Virgin Mary and told of great global turmoil to come to our world. They received predicitons of WW II, communism, and the growth of atheism which was made pubic at the time but officials of the Vatican were hesitant to reveal the last images of the predictions. The Church eventually banned the last surviving visionary to speak of the experience publicly. Cardinal Bertone breaks the silence of the last scene, which was highly speculated to be Armageddon but instead it the final prophecy was the 1981 assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II.
I was raised Catholic and the story of Fatima was one that fascinated me from the start. The first time I heard it was in second grade and the story just stuck with me. When I saw that this book was available I HAD to read it. Cardinal Bertone answers candidly and honestly the questions that have been posed for many, many years. He talks about the three children of Fatima and their lives after they received these visions. Written in Question/Answer form, the book’s content comes from a series of interviews that Giuseppe DeCarli conducted with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Each of the three messages that Mary entrusted to Lucia to hold for the Pope are revealed in their entirety. Along with them, it gives insights into the apparitions themselves when Cardinal Bertone details his meetings with Sister Lucia. The book also discusses the way in which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — later Pope Benedict XVI — felt about these messages. The parts I found most interesting were the details surrounding the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life and his subsequent Entrustment of Russia and the World to Mary’s protection. Pope John Paul II became known as “The Fatima Pope.” I really feel like I learned so much more about Fatima than I ever knew. This book is fantastic and I highly recommend this book to anyone who "knows" the story of Fatima, you will be amazed at the things you didn't know. I give this book 5 STARS.
Book Description:
With an introduction by Pope Benedict XVI and including information previously suppressed, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, definitively reveals and explains one of the most controversial events in twentieth-century Catholicism—the 1917 apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima.
During World War I, three Portuguese children received a vision in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, foretold great global turmoil. The first part of their vision—warnings about World War II, communism, and the spread of atheism—were widely publicized, but Vatican officials were hesitant to reveal the vision’s concluding images, thus creating the "secret" of Fatima. Speculation about this secret gripped many Catholics, and the aura of intrigue surrounding Fatima grew when the Church hierarchy barred the last surviving visionary from speaking publicly.
In THE LAST SECRET OF FATIMA, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican equivalent of prime minister and a top advisor to Pope Benedict, breaks the Vatican’s official silence on the last secret. Rather than Armageddon, he claims, the final prophecy envisaged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Bertone argues the apparition at Fatima was a call to renewal for the Church, and he was assigned the task of promulgating this message by the Pope.
My Thoughts:
The Last Secret of Fatima By Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone reveals and explains the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima. Three Portuguese children see the Virgin Mary and told of great global turmoil to come to our world. They received predicitons of WW II, communism, and the growth of atheism which was made pubic at the time but officials of the Vatican were hesitant to reveal the last images of the predictions. The Church eventually banned the last surviving visionary to speak of the experience publicly. Cardinal Bertone breaks the silence of the last scene, which was highly speculated to be Armageddon but instead it the final prophecy was the 1981 assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II.
I was raised Catholic and the story of Fatima was one that fascinated me from the start. The first time I heard it was in second grade and the story just stuck with me. When I saw that this book was available I HAD to read it. Cardinal Bertone answers candidly and honestly the questions that have been posed for many, many years. He talks about the three children of Fatima and their lives after they received these visions. Written in Question/Answer form, the book’s content comes from a series of interviews that Giuseppe DeCarli conducted with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Each of the three messages that Mary entrusted to Lucia to hold for the Pope are revealed in their entirety. Along with them, it gives insights into the apparitions themselves when Cardinal Bertone details his meetings with Sister Lucia. The book also discusses the way in which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — later Pope Benedict XVI — felt about these messages. The parts I found most interesting were the details surrounding the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life and his subsequent Entrustment of Russia and the World to Mary’s protection. Pope John Paul II became known as “The Fatima Pope.” I really feel like I learned so much more about Fatima than I ever knew. This book is fantastic and I highly recommend this book to anyone who "knows" the story of Fatima, you will be amazed at the things you didn't know. I give this book 5 STARS.
November 22, 2015
Very well written account of the events relating to the Church's acknowledgement of the apparitions seen by Sister Lucia and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta. The chronology at the end of the book was very helpful in understanding the order in which the many events transpired. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.
July 14, 2021
This book is structured as an interview between Cardinal Bertone and Italian journalist Guiseppe De Carli. Pope Benedict and Bertone both provide introductions about the Marian sightings in Fatima and about the Church’s situation with disclosure and non-disclosure over the years of what Mary apparently told the visionaries. De Carli conducts an extensive interview with Cardinal Bertone, whereby the Cardinal discusses his three “official” meetings with Sister Lucia, the last of the visionaries who Mary appeared to in Portugal in 1917. The “secret” may or may not come off as revelatory, and it depends on your trust in the credibility of visionaries such as Lucia. The chapters separate the interview into subjects, and I found myself perusing the Cardinal’s answers more than scrutinizing his every word.
October 28, 2025
Interesting read about Fatima, sister Lucia, JPII. Read in prep for a visit there. Not earth shattering for this Catholic. Wish the chronology would have been at the front. Also, once a bishop is named pope, I forget his name. Wish they would have used both given and pope name when referencing. Short, easy read.
August 25, 2019
An interview with Cardinal Bertone. The book covers Fatima, as well as Pope Saint John Paul II and others impacted by the events there. It was an interesting read, but that is all.
March 12, 2023
Powerful book about Fatima. I have found it very thought provoking the apparitions that have been observed by others. May these continue to help build the faith of all believers.
Read
November 11, 2023I read this to research a novella I’m writing. Pretty fascinating stuff for me, but I still refuse to study modern Catholicism.
December 15, 2012
Interview with cardinal who had various conversations with Sister Lucia about what she had written about the apparitions at Fatima. This was an engaging conversation that left one feeling closer to God. Despite the fact that personal apparitions are not teachings of the Church (emphasized in the book), simply reflecting on the experience and contemplating the text (bishop in white killed by soldiers) as interpreted by Pope John Paul II makes one feel like Heaven is trying to talk to us.
July 11, 2012
Having the investigative information and opinion of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was enlightening. I am now interested in reading some of Sr. Lucia's writings. It is helpful to have the Church's position on this apparition of Mary and how Mary's message should influence us as Christians. The Fatima prayer is one of my personal favorites: Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
April 14, 2014
Cardinal Bertone writes about the apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, of the Virgin Mary. He discusses the religious significance of these miracles. He evaluates the third secret message of Mary to Lucia which was not revealed for decades. This is a good read for those interested in the beliefs of the Catholic (the first Christian) faith.
May 20, 2017
If you are looking for apocalyptic prophecy this book isn't for you. It showcases the simple and thoughtful message of the Fatima visionary of the Virgin Mary. If you followed Pope Francis recent celebration at Fatima and the sainthood of Jacinta and Francisco - this is a helpful companion to understand the reasons for their sainthood.
June 24, 2014
This was a good book, but I was disappointed in it
February 11, 2015
Excellent
There are so many strange ideas doing the rounds. It is refreshing to have the TRUE FACTS from one so closely involved personally with Lucia.
There are so many strange ideas doing the rounds. It is refreshing to have the TRUE FACTS from one so closely involved personally with Lucia.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews