Pope Leo XIV led a candlelight procession at the Marian Sanctuary in Lourdes on Sunday, Sept. 27, walking directly among thousands of pilgrims instead of presiding from a terrace.
Candlelight Procession at the Lourdes Sanctuary
The penultimate day of the papal visit to France culminated in the traditional Rosary procession at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Thousands of faithful individuals from across the globe gathered with candles in hand, walking toward the forecourt of the Basilica of Our Rosary. As the bright moonlight illuminated the night sky, pilgrims chanted “Ave Maria” in French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages while reciting the Rosary.
Breaking from the tradition of his predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XIV, Pope Leo XIV chose not to lead the ceremony from the elevated terrace overlooking the square. Instead, the pontiff immersed himself directly in the crowd of believers, functioning as a pilgrim among other pilgrims.
The Path from the Massabielle Grotto
The religious procession began at the Massabielle Grotto, the exact site where Pope Leo XIV commenced his pilgrimage to Lourdes the previous day. Following behind the crowned statue of the Virgin Mary, the procession moved across the square to meditate on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.
Following the prayer walk, the Pope delivered an address to the assembled faithful, which was translated by Father Toms Priedoliņš. Addressing the gathering, the pontiff spoke about the enduring nature of hope.
“This light that guides us and draws us is the light of hope that never leaves us,” Pope Leo XIV said during his address, noting the presence of the sick as particular witnesses to faith and love.
Reflections on Suffering and Faith
Drawing on historical papal writings, Pope Leo XIV referenced an encyclical by Pope Pius XII from July 2, 1957, which stated that no corner of the earth had ever witnessed such a procession of suffering coupled with such a large radiation of peace, calm, and joy.
The Pope encouraged the sick and all believers to look toward the future with faith, quoting Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Romans: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
The address also touched upon the significance of the Immaculate Conception, referencing past papal remarks by Benedict XVI from the torchlight procession on Sept. 13, 2008, regarding Mary as a sign of love, goodness, and divine victory.
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