Lourdes becomes focal point of Catholic debate ahead of Pope Francis' France visit

Pope Francis will travel to France from 25‑28 September 2024, with a stop at Lourdes on 27 September. The visit, his first to France and the first papal trip in nearly two decades, will include a procession at the Massabielle grotto, meetings with French bishops and a Mass on the sanctuary’s esplanade. Bishop Jean‑Marc Micas expects the Pope to address the French Parliament’s recent law legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide, reinforcing the Church’s pro‑life message.

Lourdes, long a site of reported healings, also hosts the Bureau des Constatations Médicales, a scientific office that investigates miracles. Historical opposition to the sanctuary dates back to the 1892 visit of writer Émile Zola, who came to expose alleged fraud but witnessed the miraculous recovery of two tuberculosis patients, an event he later denied in his writings.