Pope arrives at Mary's home

Pope Leo XIV is visiting Lourdes, the Marian shrine in southern France where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858. The Pope comes as the Successor of Saint Peter to pray for peace, healing and unity in an unsettled world.

A chaplain's first encounter

Father James Phalan, an American priest coordinating English-speaking chaplains at Lourdes, first visited in 2008. Walking into the Sanctuary, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace that convinced him something sacred was present.

“There's something here. You knew it. You could feel it.”

Lourdes among global shrines

Lourdes is one of the world's major Marian pilgrimage sites, alongside Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, Fatima in Portugal, and Medjugorje. These places are homes of Mary where she invites the faithful to encounter her and Jesus.

“These places are homes of Mary, where she calls the people.”

A man's faith restored

Father Phalan recalls a man who survived a car accident that killed his wife and child, leaving him semi-paralyzed. After coming to Lourdes, he was healed physically and, more importantly, recovered his faith and found peace.

“What was most important for him was that he got his faith back.”

Seventy-two official healings

Lourdes has recognized 72 official cases of healing through a rigorous process involving medical examination and diocesan review. Thousands more cases cannot complete the full process but are considered authentic medical healings.

“There have now been 72 officially recognized cases of healing.”

Millions touched spiritually

Beyond the 72 official healings and thousands of physical healings, millions of pilgrims have experienced profound spiritual transformation at Lourdes. These spiritual healings represent the deepest impact of the shrine on the faithful.

“There have been millions, millions, of spiritual healings.”

A beautiful valley setting

Lourdes sits at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France, in a small town along a gentle river. The physical beauty of the location reflects Mary's choice of where to appear to the faithful.

“Our Lady chose very well.”

From dumping ground to grotto

Mary appeared in a grotto, originally a cave used as a town dumping ground where Bernadette and two other girls gathered firewood. Mary asked that a church be built so pilgrims could come to this sacred site.

Basilicas rise above the grotto

After the Bishop approved the apparitions, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was built on the rock above the grotto. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary followed, and a massive underground basilica built in the 1950s can hold 20,000 people.

Daily processions and blessings

Two processions happen daily at Lourdes. The Blessed Sacrament procession in the underground basilica blesses the sick, while a candlelit Rosary procession circles the Sanctuary each night at 9 p.m. from Easter through October.

English-speaking ministry

The English-speaking chaplaincy celebrates Mass twice daily and hears confessions throughout the day. Chaplains provide counseling and pastoral presence to English-speaking pilgrims visiting the Sanctuary.

Peter visits Mary

Father Phalan notes that when Pope Leo visits Lourdes, he comes as the Successor of Saint Peter visiting Mary. The Pope prays for peace, healing and unity in a world that is unsettled and needs these spiritual gifts.

“He is Peter going to visit Mary.”

Mary's special homes worldwide

Father Phalan describes Lourdes as one of Mary's special homes, places where she has appeared and remains present. Mary appeared at Lourdes in 1858 and has never left, continuing to bring people to Jesus.

“Our Lady appeared here in 1858, and she hasn't left.”

Mary guides toward Jesus

Mary teaches the faithful to say yes to Jesus and let Him lead them deeper into His life. Through the Rosary, she guides pilgrims to walk with Jesus, sometimes along the way to the Cross, but always toward new life and Resurrection.

“Our Lady wants to lead us into the light of Jesus.”