Pope Leo XIV is officially expected to visit France in late September, and lourdes is among the suggested stops alongside Paris. The French bishops' conference said on May 6 that the itinerary is being drafted as church officials in Lourdes prepare for a papal visit, including Mass, a torchlight procession and an overnight stay at the sanctuary.
French bishops draft itinerary
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the French bishops' conference, said he had several working sessions with the pope, including one last week, during which they drafted a preliminary itinerary. He also told bishops in March, during their spring plenary assembly, that he had invited Pope Leo.
President Emmanuel Macron said on April 10 that he had invited Pope Leo during their meeting at the Vatican. Father Michel Daubanes, rector of the Sanctuary of Lourdes and part of Macron's delegation, said on April 24: "It is absolutely clear that the pope is coming to Lourdes!" He added: "We are eagerly awaiting him!"
Lourdes prepares for pilgrims
Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said on May 6 that logistical preparations were well underway in Lourdes and that a preliminary program had been developed with the presidency of the bishops' conference and the Archdiocese of Paris. He said: "It is planned that the pope will celebrate a solemn Mass on the sanctuary’s lawn and preside over the torchlight procession in the evening, before spending the night there, though we are awaiting confirmation from the Vatican."
Micas said the Sanctuary of Lourdes has 320 employees and would need larger teams to manage the event while continuing to welcome pilgrims and the sick. He also said: "The 320 employees of the Sanctuary of Lourdes are absolutely delighted by this prospect" and "It will be a great celebration!"
Sept. 19 rumors in Paris
The French bishops have not yet announced the exact date of the papal visit, but rumors in the Paris region point to around Sept. 19. Some bishops have already communicated Sept. 19 to their parish priests so they can adjust parish schedules accordingly, even as the Vatican has not set the final date.
Micas said Pope Leo XIV told him in June that he truly wanted to come, and he added: "He has already been to Lourdes twice before, when he was 19 and when he was 29." The planned trip now sits between the bishops' preparations in Lourdes and the still-open question of the final date.
