- Pope Leo XIV will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes during a four-day apostolic trip to France , marking the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years.
- The shrine in southwestern France attracts around three million pilgrims annually following the 1858 visions of the Virgin Mary reported by Saint Bernadette Soubirous.
- Accommodation prices in Lourdes have surged ahead of the visit, with some hoteliers charging more than 2,000 euros per night to accommodate the influx of visitors.
- Façade mosaics at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary designed by Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik, an artist accused of abuse, will be covered during the papal visit.
- Pope Leo XIV will meet seven survivors of sexual abuse by church personnel, celebrate Mass, and lead a torchlight procession during his pilgrimage.
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