Vatican officials discuss peace in Moscow and prepare for papal visit to Lourdes

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss international issues and humanitarian initiatives. A primary focus of the meeting was finding a path toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. Gallagher reiterated the call for an end to hostilities and the commencement of “real negotiations” supported by the international community.

Separately, preparations are underway for Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to the sanctuary of Lourdes, France, scheduled for September 26 and 27. Despite France being a highly secularized nation, interest in the visit has exceeded expectations. Over 100,000 people registered for the event within weeks, prompting the sanctuary to make registration mandatory due to capacity limits. While participation remains free, the high volume of pilgrims means some may need to view services via large screens.