Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass before 150,000 pilgrims in Lourdes

Pope Leo XIV continued his visit to France with a stop in Lourdes, the major Catholic pilgrimage site in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where he celebrated Mass before a crowd of around 150,000 people, according to France 24.

The visit forms part of the pope's broader trip to France, during which he has traveled to sites of religious significance in the country. Lourdes is one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually who come to the shrine associated with reported Marian apparitions in the 19th century.

Vatican correspondent's impressions

Hendro Munstermann, a Vatican correspondent for the Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad, spoke with France 24 from Lourdes to share his impressions of the visit and further details on the pope's itinerary at the shrine.

France 24's report did not specify additional stops on the pope's French visit beyond Lourdes or provide the exact date of the Mass. Papal visits to major pilgrimage sites typically draw large crowds of the faithful, and Lourdes has hosted previous papal visits given its prominence within the Catholic Church.

The pope's trip to France continues as part of his broader schedule of international visits since taking office.