Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site

Pope Leo XIV held an open-air Mass on Sunday morning at the Lourdes Sanctuary, a stop on his four-day trip to France, according to France 24. The visit marks the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years.

Following the Mass, the pope was expected to meet privately in the afternoon with victims of clergy sexual abuse, adding a significant and closely watched dimension to his time in Lourdes, one of the world's most prominent Catholic pilgrimage sites.

A historic visit to France

The scale of the trip, described as the first official papal state visit to France in nearly two decades, has drawn considerable attention both within the country's Catholic community and among observers of the Vatican's broader engagement with France on issues including secularism and the legacy of clergy sexual abuse.

Lourdes has long attracted pilgrims from around the world seeking healing and spiritual renewal, and a papal Mass at the site represents one of the most significant moments of this kind of visit for the local Catholic community and visiting faithful alike.

Coverage of the visit continued to follow developments throughout the day, including the pope's planned meeting with abuse victims following the public Mass.