Pope Leo XIV marked the penultimate day of his visit to France on Sunday, Sept. 27, by descending into the crowd during the torchlight Rosary procession at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Thousands of pilgrims from around the world gathered under the moonlight, holding candles and reciting the Rosary in French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages while singing “Ave Maria,” as reported by Jānis Evertovskis.
Pope Leo XIV Breaks Tradition in Lourdes Torchlight Procession
Breaking from the practice of his predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XIV, who led the ceremony from a terrace overlooking the Rosary Basilica esplanade, Pope Leo XIV walked directly among the faithful. The Pontiff became a pilgrim among pilgrims, starting the prayer at the Massabielle Grotto before leading the procession past the crowned statue of the Virgin Mary.
The grotto marks the exact site where the Pope began his pilgrimage to the sanctuary the previous day. Pilgrims reflected on the Fourth Mystery of the Rosary—the Mysteries of Glorious Honor—as the procession moved across the esplanade toward the basilica forecourt.
The Pontiff’s Address on Suffering and Hope
Standing before the assembled faithful at the Rožukroņa bazilikas priekšlaukums (the Rosary Basilica forecourt), Pope Leo XIV delivered an address translated into Latvian by Father Toms Priedoliņš. The Pope reminded believers that the Marian procession answers the Virgin Mary’s request to Saint Bernadette: “Let people come here in procession.”
“This light that guides us and draws us is the light of hope that never leaves us,” Pope Leo XIV told the crowd. He specifically addressed the sick gathered at the shrine, citing a 1957 encyclical by Pope Pius XII, Le pèlerinage de Lourdes, which noted that nowhere else on earth is there seen such a procession of suffering combined with such a radiant sense of peace and joy.
Recalling Saint Paul’s words to the Romans (“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”), the Pontiff emphasized that Mary serves as a beacon of love and victory against evil. He invoked Saint Bernard’s second homily in praise of the Virgin Mary, describing her as Stella maris (the Star of the Sea) who guides believers safely through life’s storms.
Historical Continuity of Papal Visits to Lourdes
Sunday’s event continued a papal tradition of engaging with the sick and the global Catholic community at the French Marian shrine. While previous pontiffs maintained an elevated vantage point on the basilica terrace, Leo XIV’s immersion into the crowd mirrors the pastoral style of his visit.
Did you know? Pope Pius XII described the Lourdes gathering in his 1957 encyclical as a unique manifestation of peace and suffering, noting that no other place on earth witnesses such a profound concentration of prayerful endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Papal Visit to Lourdes
Where did the torchlight procession begin?
The procession began at the Massabielle Grotto, where Pope Leo XIV started his pilgrimage, before moving across the esplanade toward the Rosary Basilica forecourt.
How did Pope Leo XIV’s participation differ from past popes?
Unlike John Paul II and Benedict XIV, who led the ceremony from a terrace above the basilica laukums, Pope Leo XIV walked directly among the pilgrims in the crowd.
What text was used during the procession prayer?
Participants prayed the Rosary, specifically meditating on the Fourth Mystery of the Rosary (the Augstās godības noslēpumi), while singing hymns like “Ave Maria.”
Who translated the Pope’s address?
Father Toms Priedoliņš translated the full text of Pope Leo XIV’s address into Latvian.
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