Pope Leo XIV’s arrival in Lourdes marks a significant moment for the community known for miracles. Lourdes, a site with a history of miraculous cures, gained fame after Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl, reported 18 visions of the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle Grotto in 1858. These visions ultimately led to Bernadette being canonized as a saint.

The Pope began his visit with prayers at the grotto before conducting an open-air Mass on Sunday. Expected attendees numbered in the hundreds of thousands. This visit is not just about miracles; it’s about purification and healing for the Church, particularly concerning the sexual abuse scandals.

During this visit, Pope Leo XIV will converse with bishops, the sick, and medical staff. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, who has led the Lourdes Office of Medical Observation for 17 years, talked about the Pope’s motives for visiting, emphasizing the importance of healing within the Church.

Dr. de Franciscis highlighted individuals whose cures were investigated and validated by the Church. Notable cases include Sister Bernadette Moriau and Antonietta Raco, both cured of severe ailments. He also noted Delizia Cirolli’s miraculous recovery from cancer in her childhood.

Spiritual and physical healings at Lourdes have often transcended the ordinary, producing both minor and major miracles. Dr. de Franciscis, in his book “The Angels Among Us,” stresses the hospitaliers’ crucial role. These caregivers, dubbed “angels of Lourdes,” assist the sick on their path to healing, often spiritual in nature, beyond the physical cures formally acknowledged.

The Pope will meet individuals who have experienced miraculous healing and with seven survivors of sexual abuse by church clergy. This visit encompasses repentance, accountability, and the potential for profound spiritual transformation.