Updated
Updated · National Catholic Register · Sep 27
Pope Leo XIV Leads Lourdes Mass for Hundreds of Thousands, Meets 7 Abuse Victims
Updated
Updated · National Catholic Register · Sep 27

Pope Leo XIV Leads Lourdes Mass for Hundreds of Thousands, Meets 7 Abuse Victims

3 articles · Updated · National Catholic Register · Sep 27

Summary

  • Lourdes drew hundreds of thousands on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV led an open-air Mass after arriving from Paris and praying at the Massabielle Grotto the night before.
  • Seven clergy abuse victims were due to meet the pope during the visit, which aides and local church figures framed as a mission of purification, healing, repentance and accountability.
  • The pope also met bishops, the sick and Lourdes support staff, and was expected to see people whose recoveries the Church has recognized as miracles, including Sister Bernadette Moriau and Antonietta Raco.
  • The trip centers on Lourdes' dual role since Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 Marian visions there in 1858: a global pilgrimage site for physical cures and, more often, spiritual healing.

Insights

Why did the Pope's historic visit to Lourdes include covering up specific artworks, and what does it signal for the Church's future?
What hidden spiritual cures did the Pope acknowledge at Lourdes that defy the strict medical standards of miracle investigators?
How will the Pope's fierce condemnation of assisted suicide at Lourdes impact the growing global push for right-to-die legislation?