Pope to make Fatima child shepherds saints

Vatican City : Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal a century ago will be declared saints on May 13, Pope Francis announced Thursday.

The canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto will take place during the Argentine pontiff's visit to a Catholic shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every year.

The trip has been timed to mark the 100th anniversary of the first reported appearances of the Virgin who, according to a much-debated tradition, shared three major prophesies with the impoverished, barely-literate children.

Jacinta was seven at the time, her brother Francisco was nine and their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, was 10.

Francisco died in 1919 and Jacinta the following year in the Spanish Influenza epidemic that swept through Europe at the end of World War I.

Believers say they displayed great forbearance in their suffering because the Virgin had told them they would join her in heaven at a young age.

Buried at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, they will be the youngest non-martyrs to be canonised, and Thursday's announcement was greeted with joy by the local bishop.

"This will ensure the centenary of the apparitions will take place in all its splendour," said Antonio Marto.