The Fatima apparitions refer to a series of reported visions of the Virgin Mary that occurred in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal. Three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto, claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary on several occasions. During these apparitions, she conveyed messages about prayer, penance, and the importance of devotion to her Immaculate Heart. The most famous event, known as the Miracle of the Sun, took place on October 13, 1917, when thousands of people witnessed extraordinary solar phenomena. The apparitions have since become a significant part of Catholic tradition, leading to the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta in 2017.