Lourdes, a small town in the foothills of the Pyrenees, became the focal point of Catholic devotion on Sunday evening as Pope Leo XIV joined tens of thousands of pilgrims for a candlelit rosary procession. The event, held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, drew an estimated 150,000 attendees, according to local organizers, making it one of the largest gatherings of his pontificate.
The pope, who arrived in Lourdes on Saturday after a historic visit to Paris, led the traditional torchlight procession that winds through the sanctuary grounds. Pilgrims carried glowing candles as they recited the rosary in multiple languages, creating a sea of light against the darkening sky. The atmosphere was one of quiet reverence, punctuated by hymns and prayers echoing off the surrounding hills.
A pilgrimage of healing and reflection
Lourdes holds deep significance for Catholics worldwide, as it is the site where, in 1858, a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous reported visions of the Virgin Mary. Since then, the town has become a major pilgrimage destination, particularly for the sick and those seeking spiritual or physical healing. The pope's visit was framed as a gesture of solidarity with the vulnerable, a theme he has emphasized throughout his time in France.
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo XIV met privately with survivors of clerical abuse, a meeting that was not on the official public schedule. The Vatican confirmed the encounter, describing it as a moment of listening and prayer. This meeting followed his meeting with abuse survivors in Paris, where he had asked for forgiveness on behalf of the Church.
The pope's visit to France began in the capital, where he celebrated an open-air Mass at Les Invalides that drew an estimated 800,000 people, a record for a single event in the country. That gathering, which took place on Saturday, was marked by a strong sense of national pride and religious fervor. The Paris Mass was seen as a test of the pope's ability to connect with a largely secular French public, and by most accounts, it succeeded.
In Lourdes, the pope delivered a homily during Sunday's Mass, focusing on themes of hope and compassion. He urged the faithful to be "witnesses of mercy" in a world often marked by division and indifference. His words resonated with many in the crowd, including healthcare workers and volunteers who accompany the sick on their pilgrimages.
The visit also had a broader European dimension. Pope Leo XIV has made clear his intention to engage with the continent's social and political challenges, from migration to the rise of nationalism. In his address at the Élysée Palace earlier in the trip, he called for European unity, echoing the sentiments of French President Emmanuel Macron. The pope's message, delivered in French, was seen as a subtle rebuke to populist movements across the EU.
Lourdes, with its international pilgrimage traffic, served as a fitting backdrop for this message. Pilgrims from across Europe—from Poland to Portugal, from Germany to Ireland—filled the sanctuary, their presence a reminder of the continent's shared Christian heritage. The arrival in Lourdes had been anticipated with great excitement, and the turnout did not disappoint.
As the candlelit procession concluded, the pope blessed the crowd before retiring to the residence of the sanctuary's chaplains. His departure from Lourdes on Monday will mark the end of a whirlwind visit that has energized French Catholics and drawn attention to the Church's role in contemporary Europe.
For many of the pilgrims, the evening was a deeply personal experience. "To see the pope here, in this holy place, is something I will never forget," said Maria Fernández, a pilgrim from Seville, Spain. "It gives me strength to face my own struggles."
The pope's visit to Lourdes also highlighted the town's role as a place of healing, not just for the body but for the soul. In a world of constant news and digital noise, the quiet procession offered a moment of collective contemplation. As one volunteer put it, "Lourdes is a place where people come to listen—to each other, and to God."
