The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes will have the pleasure of welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Sunday 27th September 2026, as part of his apostolic visit to France.
Following his visit to Paris on 25th and 26th September, and before his stop in Metz on 28th September, the Holy Father will come to Lourdes as a pilgrim. He will visit the Grotto of Massabielle and preside over a High Mass open to all.
Pope Leo XIV’s attachment to Lourdes goes back a long way. Before his election, he visited the town on two occasions, first as a young man and then as a young priest.
Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has also demonstrated his connection to the message of Lourdes through several periods of prayer in front of the replica of the Grotto of Massabielle in the Vatican Gardens. Both his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his particular concern for the sick are very much in keeping with the mission of the Sanctuary.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit will be the fourth visit by a Pope to Lourdes.
Saint John Paul II visited the site in 1983 and again in 2004. Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions. In 2026, Pope Leo XIV will, in his turn, become part of this spiritual history that links the popes to the Sanctuary of Lourdes.
Every year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world come to Lourdes seeking consolation, hope and comfort from Our Lady. The Holy Father’s visit serves as a reminder of the universal vocation of this place of prayer, which prioritises the needs of sick and the vulnerable.
Ever since the apparitions of 1858, the popes have always shown a special interest in Lourdes.
Pope Pius IX, who had proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, was there at the very beginning of this extraordinary story. Leo XIII strongly encouraged pilgrimage and Marian devotion. Saint Pius X set in motion the process that would lead to Bernadette’s beatification and subsequent canonisation.
In more recent times, Saint John Paul II left a lasting impression with his two pilgrimages, particularly in 2004 when he came to Lourdes as one of the sick. Benedict XVI, for his part, emphasised the importance of silence and prayer during his visit in 2008.
Pope Francis also repeatedly expressed his affection for Lourdes, particularly for its care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable.
This long-standing loyalty from the popes bears witness to the unique place that Lourdes holds in the life of the universal Church.
The Holy Father’s visit marks an historic moment for the Sanctuary and for the millions of faithful who love Lourdes.
Your donation helps us to welcome pilgrims, support those who are ill, maintain places of worship and pass on the message of Lourdes to future generations.
* Rehaussement de la réduction d’impôt pour les dons effectués au profit des associations cultuelles entre le 2 juin 2021 et le 31 décembre 2022 : vote définitif de la mesure dans la loi de finance rectificative n° 2021-953 du 19 juillet 2021. L’article 18 prévoit que le taux de la réduction d’impôt prévue au 1 de l’article 200 du code général des impôts est porté à 75 % pour les dons et versements, y compris l’abandon exprès de revenus ou produits, effectués entre le 2 juin 2021 et le 31 décembre 2022, au profit d’associations cultuelles ou d’établissements publics des cultes reconnus d’Alsace-Moselle. Les versements réalisés en 2021 sont retenus dans la limite de 554 euros. Pour les versements réalisés en 2022, cette limite est relevée dans la même proportion que la limite supérieure de la première tranche du barème de l’impôt sur le revenu de l’année 2021. Le montant obtenu est arrondi, s’il y a lieu, à l’euro supérieur. Il n’est pas tenu compte de ces versements pour l’application de la limite de 20 % du revenu imposable. Précision : ce plafond de 554€ est bien distinct de celui dit “amendement Coluche” qui permet de bénéficier d’une réduction à 75% pour certaines associations caritatives et humanitaires dites « organismes d’aide aux personnes en difficulté ». Il est bien possible de cumuler ces deux avantages.
