Pope joins pilgrims in Lourdes candlelit rosary as 150,000 attend mass

Loading the video No Comment Video. Pope joins pilgrims in Lourdes candlelit rosary as 150,000 attend mass Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 28/09/2026 - 7:51 GMT+2 Thousands of pilgrims filled Lourdes on Sunday evening for a candlelit procession with Pope Leo XIV, as he brought his four-day visit to France to a close. Holding a candle and a rosary, the pope walked behind a statue of the Virgin Mary through the sanctuary, describing himself as a “pilgrim among pilgrims”. The procession began at the Grotto of Massabielle, where Bernadette Soubirous is said to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1858. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Rosary is a series of Catholic prayers traditionally divided into five decades, with worshippers reflecting on events from the lives of Jesus and Mary. The prayers were recited in several languages, including French, English, Italian and Spanish, accompanied by the “Ave Maria” of Lourdes. More than 150,000 candles were lit across the sanctuary, creating one of Lourdes’ most recognisable evening ceremonies. Earlier, Leo had celebrated an outdoor Mass attended by around 150,000 people, met French bishops and visited sick and disabled pilgrims. He also held private meetings with survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The visit was the first official papal state visit to France in 18 years. Pope Leo XIV France Pilgrimage catholic church Top stories Now playing Next Pope joins pilgrims in Lourdes candlelit rosary as 150,000 attend mass Now playing Next Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis Now playing Next Northern Ireland: 2,000 protesters block disputed Portadown march Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | September 28th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | September 27th, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next Seven killed, dozens hurt in Saudi airstrike on Yemen market Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | September 27th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Trump rejects Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz Now playing Next Russian foreign minister rejects Berlin's call to abandon escalation Now playing Next How 21st-century glue is helping to finish Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece Now playing Next Thousands take to the streets in Madrid over Ceuta migrant crisis Now playing Next Fat Bear Week returns as Alaska's biggest bears compete for the crown Now playing Next The sea full of diclofenac — how researchers are trying to cut pharmaceutical pollution in the Baltic Sea Now playing Next How neutral should Switzerland be? Voters deliver decisive verdict Now playing Next Pope Leo XIV urges French Church to continue fight against sexual abuse Now playing Next Etna erupts again: chaos at Catania airport, risk of higher air fares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage No Comment Ukraine: Russian drone barrage on Kyiv kills teenage boy and wounds 20 residents No Comment Explosion near Acropolis collapses building in Athens’ Plaka, injuring two No Comment South Africa fires up world’s biggest braai in bid for Guinness record Europe News At least two people were killed and 19 are in hospital after a bus crashed near Munich Europe News Protesters camp in Madrid in demonstration against Spain' housing crisis Europe News Pope Leo XIV says assisted dying must not become 'normal' as visit to France continues Azerbaijan Azerbaijan agrees multi-billion-dollar deals with investment giants Europe News Five arrested near US air base as police probe possible Iran link South Africa Two mass shootings in South Africa leave at least 27 dead Europe News Russian foreign minister rejects Berlin's call to abandon 'dangerous' escalation Business Tomorrow's Infrastructure: AIIB Raises Its Development Ambitions for a Second Decade ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Pope Leo arrives in Lourdes for second leg of France visit after historic Paris crowds Earth News Fat Bear Week returns as Alaska's biggest bears compete for the crown World News US president Donald Trump rejects Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz Europe News Pope Leo XIV draws huge crowds in Paris as 600,000 await Mass Europe News Thousands of protesters take to the streets in Madrid over Ceuta migrant crisis Ukraine Russia strikes Ukraine as Putin denies plans to attack Europe amid growing tensions Azerbaijan Baku's week of F1 racing, global security, and record investments Design The secret behind the Sagrada Familia's final towers: Stone, steel and 21st-century glue ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT