Carlos Gil, 52, is a “payer-off of promises,” at least that is the way the Roman Catholic refers to himself. But he is commonly known as a “rent-a-pilgrim”.
The Portuguese national takes on pilgrimages by proxy — in the name of others — especially Catholics unable because of sickness to undertake the journey or too busy or lazy for the week-long spiritual walk to the central Portuguese town of Fatima. He can be hired for 2,500 euros ($2,700).
Gil is one of the nearly one million Catholics who will descend at the weekend upon the town where three child shepherds reported visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago. Two of the children will be declared saints on May 13 during a visit by Pope Francis.
But Gil almost certainly will be the only pilgrim to make the trip on foot and invoice his walk. “It’s not about making money, but being in the service of others,” he said at his home before setting off. “It’s a deal we strike with God”.
The 2,500-euro price is a fixed rate — the lighting of a candle costs an additional 25 euros, while asking him to recite the rosary is another 250 euros. The rate also goes up if the client wants Gil to shuffle the last 400 metres (quarter of a mile) on his knees, from the shrine’s public square to the chapel where the visions are said to have taken place in 1917.
