Portuguese football club C.D. Fátima has revealed plans to rename its Fátima Municipal Stadium home after Pope Francis, who is due to visit the town this week.
According to Fox News, club director Father Antonio Pereira told Portuguese radio station Renascenca that the ground will now be known as the Estadio Papa Francisco.
The official name change will take place at a ceremony on May 12, when Pope Francis is due to arrive in Fátima to visit the town’s famous shrine. Francis is visiting the area to canonise two Portuguese shepherd children who say they saw visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago.
The stadium, which has a capacity of around 1,500, will act as the headquarters for the huge security operation mounted for the visit of less than 24 hours.
C.D. Fátima currently plays in the Campeonato de Portugal third tier, but could gain promotion to the country’s second division by winning its final game of the season this week.
