Pope Leo XIV prays for France in Lourdes and meets victims of sexual violence

Pilgrims should number 200,000 over the weekend in Lourdes, according to the prefecture, to prolong the enthusiasm perceived in Paris.

At 7 a.m. this Sunday, the queues are already (very) long in front of the entrances to the Massabielle cave, in the heart of the Marian sanctuary, where Leo XIV entrusted France to the protection of the Virgin Mary on Saturday evening.

Timothée Dhellemmes, special envoy to Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées)

The formula is not banal but it was pronounced on Saturday evening by Leo XIV, in the hollow of the cave of the apparitions of Lourdes, where he went shortly after his arrival at Tarbes-Lourdes airport. Addressing the Virgin, the pope said: “Obtain wise and generous leaders for France, ready to sacrifice themselves, capable of facing challenges and willing to serve the common good.”

A prediction for the next presidential elections? This text, prepared for a long time, appears in the liturgical booklets printed well in advance of the visit and is obviously not a political declaration, but it is not a pure coincidence either. However, it has always been customary in the Catholic Church to pray for the leaders of countries. This is practiced during Sunday masses during “universal prayer”.

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The highlights of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lourdes on Sunday, the third day of his trip to France which will end on Monday in Metz.

9:00 a.m. - Meeting with the bishops of the French Episcopal Conference (speech planned). On Sunday, his day will begin with a meeting with the French bishops, before a walkabout in a popemobile (10:15 a.m.) on the meadow of the Marian sanctuary, which welcomes three million visitors per year.

11:00 a.m. - Sunday mass on the meadow of the Lourdes sanctuary. In front of the 150,000 people expected, Leo

3:30 p.m. - Meeting at the Accueil Notre-Dame which is dedicated to sick or disabled pilgrims (speech planned). Robert Prevost's day will continue with a meeting with sick or disabled faithful (3:30 p.m.) and an interview with nuns

6:00 p.m.: Private meeting with seven victims of sexual violence in the Church. This closed-door stage will be closely scrutinized. Leo The subject remains hot for the Church of France, five years after the shock report which estimated the number of minor victims within it at 330,000 since 1950. Among the victims who will meet the Pope is a former member of the Notre-Dame de Bétharram institution, but no collective representative.

9:00 p.m. – Torchlight procession (speech planned).

Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the third day of the Pope's visit to France. After the giant mass on the Place de la Concorde on Saturday, Léon XIV is in Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées) this Sunday.

On the program: a new mass, and a meeting with victims of sexual violence in the Church. Some 200,000 people are expected over the weekend.

Saturday evening, Robert Prevost entrusted France to the protection of the Virgin Mary during a prayer in the Massabielle cave where the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared to a young shepherdess in 1858.