Pope Leo XIV prays at Lourdes grotto

Pope Leo XIV prayed for the sick, the suffering, and the people of France during his visit to the Grotto of the Apparitions in Lourdes on September 26, 2026. During the visit, which marked his first trip to the shrine during his pontificate, the pope knelt before an image of Our Lady of Lourdes and presented the Virgin Mary with a golden rose as a symbol of devotion.

While at the grotto, the pope touched the rock wall, lit a candle, and drank water from the site's spring, which was offered to him by the rector, Father Michel Daubanes. In his prayers, the pope asked the Virgin Mary to watch over France to promote harmony and unity, and he prayed for government leaders, the defense of human rights, and the right to life. He also requested that Christian families experience renewed faith and openness to life, specifically asking for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

The pilgrimage took place at a shrine that has recorded more than 7,000 healings since 1858, with 72 officially recognized as miracles by the International Medical Committee of Lourdes. The visit concluded with the crowd praying the Our Father together in Latin.