Lisbon, Portugal - The Holy See's second-highest official on Friday dedicated a huge new church at the Roman Catholic shrine of Fatima in Portugal.
Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, and about 40 other cardinals and bishops from around the world attended the ceremony to mark the opening of the Santissima Trindade church.
The church can hold more than 8,600 people. Shrine authorities say it is the fourth-largest Catholic church in the world.
The shrine, located close to the place where three shepherd children claimed the Virgin Mary appeared to them 90 years ago, draws large numbers of visitors each year. Local officials estimate six million.
Like the shrine at Lourdes, France, Fatima attracts many foreign pilgrims.
The low, circular church, made of white concrete and steel, was designed by Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis. It took three years to build and cost more than US$85 million.
The previous church held just 800 people.