The Pope at Lourdes
Pope Leo XIV to Visit Lourdes on September 27, 2026
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes will have the joy and honor of welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, September 27, 2026. As part of his apostolic journey to France, he will become a pilgrim among pilgrims.
Programme in Lourdes
26th September
7.05 pm: Arrival at ‘Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees’ International Airport
7.40 pm: Prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions
27th September
9.00 am: Meeting with the bishops at the French Bishops’ Conference – Address by the Holy Father (Saint Bernadette Auditorium)
11.00 am: Sunday Mass on the Prairie, followed by the Angelus prayer
3.30 pm: Meeting with hospitaliers and the sick at the Accueil Notre-Dame – Address by the Holy Father (Lourdes)
9.00 pm: Prayer of the Holy Rosary and Marian torchlight procession – Address by the Holy Father
Registration is now required to participate in the celebrations in Lourdes with Pope Leo XIV
As Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lourdes approaches, the number of people expected to attend will very soon reach the maximum capacity of 150,000.
To ensure everyone’s safety and to allow the Sanctuary to organize the reception of pilgrims as effectively as possible, registration is now required to participate in the celebrations presided over by the Holy Father in Lourdes.
Registration will close as soon as the maximum capacity is reached.
We therefore invite everyone who wishes to participate in Pope Leo XIV’s visit to register without delay.
For security and organizational reasons, no access will be granted to unregistered individuals.
This registration allows the Sanctuary to anticipate the flow of pilgrims, organize access and seating in the various celebration areas, and provide everyone with the practical information needed to make the most of this exceptional day.
For pilgrims traveling alone, with their families, or in groups of fewer than 10 people
Each individual, family, or small group is asked to register, specifying their place of origin, their expected date and time of arrival, and whether anyone in their party has limited mobility. You will receive a registration confirmation and all practical information, including recommended transportation options and routes to Lourdes, as well as instructions for entry and seating in the Prairie and the Esplanade du Rosaire.
For groups of more than 10 people
Each group must designate a group leader who will submit a single registration on behalf of all participants.
The registration must specify the group’s composition, its place of origin, the expected date and time of arrival, as well as whether there are any people with limited mobility or priests wishing to concelebrate.
The Sanctuary will then contact each group leader to provide practical information, including recommended transportation options and routes to Lourdes, as well as instructions for entry and seating on the Prairie and the Rosary Esplanade.
"This visit is, first and foremost, a visit by the Successor of Peter to strengthen his brothers in the faith and to address our society as a whole."
Mgr. Jean-Marc Micas, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes
The Pope is coming to Lourdes. Let’s help the Sanctuary welcome every pilgrim. An historic visit, an exceptional challenge
Hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend this event. The Sanctuary has previously had the honour of welcoming Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Drawing on this experience, it is preparing for this new visit with the utmost care. Every detail is being planned in advance to ensure that the day goes as smoothly as possible.
Planning for an event of this scale
To ensure that everyone can enjoy the day as much as possible, significant resources are required. More than 2 million euros will be needed to fund the technical installations, the sound system, the giant screens, security measures, and the arrangements for pilgrims, volunteers and the media, as well as the preparations for the celebrations.
• Over 10 kilometres of security barriers
• Over 600 volunteers mobilised
• Nearly 1,000 journalists accommodated in an international press centre specially equipped for the occasion
• Over 10 giant screens and an enhanced sound system
• A 400-seat podium for bishops and cardinals
• Nearly 3,000 priests expected
• Nearly 1,000 temporary toilets
• Enhanced cleaning and waste management arrangements
Your donation also helps shape the future
The Pope’s visit will last for just one day.
But the welcome for pilgrims never ends.
Our mission is to continue to welcome, with equal attention, every pilgrim, every sick person and every family before, during and after the Holy Father’s visit. Most of the facilities installed for this visit will continue to be used long after the Pope’s departure. The improvements made to the visitor routes, the services provided, accessibility and the infrastructure will benefit the millions of pilgrims who visit Lourdes every year for many years to come.
Your donation does more than just support an historic day.
It helps the Sanctuary to carry out its mission in the long term.
Join us in welcoming the Pope. Join us in continuing to welcome every pilgrim.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions in Preparation for the Pope's Visit
BEFORE COMING TO LOURDES
Yes, registration is required. It allows the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to best prepare for welcoming pilgrims and to ensure optimal access and safety conditions during the Holy Father’s visit to Lourdes.
Registration also allows you to receive all the practical information you need in advance to prepare for your visit, including details on how to get to the Sanctuary and useful guidelines for the day of the celebrations.
There are two registration options:
• Pilgrims traveling alone, with family, or in groups of fewer than 10 people > Register
• Groups of 10 or more people > Register a group
Registration is free. Participation in the celebrations presided over by the Pope is also free.
However, welcoming tens of thousands of pilgrims to Lourdes requires the mobilization of significant human, technical, and logistical resources. Everyone is therefore invited, according to their means, to contribute to the costs associated with welcoming the Holy Father and the pilgrims, either on site or right now by making an online donation.
Yes. The Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, September 27, 2026, on the Meadow of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, is open to everyone. Attendance at the celebration is free.
For security reasons and to ensure the best possible conditions for visitors, the number of people present on the Sanctuary Meadow will, however, be limited to the site’s capacity. Once the area reaches capacity, access may be restricted.
To attend the Pope’s Mass in Lourdes, it is strongly recommended that you arrive at least 3 hours before the start of the celebration to allow sufficient time to reach the Sanctuary and pass through the various security checkpoints.
To enable as many people as possible to experience this celebration, numerous giant screens and a sound system will be widely deployed throughout the Sanctuary. Pilgrims will thus be able to follow the Mass live and fully participate in the prayer, even from a distance from the Prairie.
A booklet for the celebration will be distributed free of charge on site to all participants. It will allow everyone to follow the Mass and fully experience this time of prayer with the Holy Father.
To make your visit easier, be sure to register and regularly check the practical information provided by the Sanctuary.
It is strongly recommended that you arrive at the Sanctuary at least 3 hours before the start of the Pope’s Mass.
This early arrival is necessary due to the exceptionally large crowds expected in Lourdes and the security measures put in place for the Holy Father’s visit. In particular, each pilgrim will be required to pass through a security checkpoint and undergo screening before entering the Shrine.
You should also allow enough time to reach the Sanctuary from the parking lots—especially if you are using the shuttle buses—and then to make your way to the Prairie and find your seat.
To make your visit easier, be sure to register and check regularly for practical information provided by the Sanctuary.
GETTING TO LOURDES AND VISITING THE SANCTUARY
Special parking and transportation arrangements will be put in place for the Pope’s visit to Lourdes. Parking lots will be set up on the outskirts of the city to allow pilgrims to park their vehicles and then easily reach the Sanctuary via shuttle buses.
Due to the exceptional security measures in place for the Holy Father’s visit, the usual parking options in downtown Lourdes and in the immediate vicinity of the Sanctuary will be severely limited or even prohibited.
The Sanctuary is currently working closely with government agencies and the city of Lourdes to finalize the traffic plan, parking areas, and access procedures to the Sanctuary.
A detailed map of parking lots, shuttle buses, and routes will be provided as soon as the arrangements are finalized. We recommend that pilgrims use public transportation and allow sufficient time to reach the Sanctuary.
Be sure to register and check regularly for practical information provided by the Sanctuary.
Yes. A shuttle service will be set up to help pilgrims reach the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The shuttles will provide transportation to the Sanctuary from the main parking lots located on the outskirts of Lourdes, as well as from certain arrival points.
This system is currently being organized in coordination with government agencies, the municipality of Lourdes, and the various stakeholders involved to facilitate the travel of the tens of thousands of pilgrims expected for the Pope’s visit.
The routes, departure points, and schedules for the shuttle buses will be announced as soon as the details are finalized.
To make your visit easier, be sure to register and check the practical information provided by the Sanctuary regularly.
Special parking areas will be reserved for pilgrim buses coming to Lourdes for the Pope’s visit. To facilitate the arrival and departure of groups, a special traffic and parking plan for buses will be implemented.
The Sanctuary is working with the City of Lourdes and state agencies to determine routes, drop-off and pick-up points for pilgrims, and parking areas for tour buses.
A detailed traffic plan and access guidelines will be provided as soon as the arrangements are finalized. This information will also be shared with pilgrimage organizers and transportation providers so they can prepare for their visit to Lourdes under the best possible conditions.
Yes, public transportation will continue to operate in Lourdes, but service will be adjusted to accommodate the special security and traffic arrangements put in place for the Pope’s visit.
Some routes may be modified, rerouted, or temporarily suspended, particularly in areas affected by traffic restrictions and security measures.
Bus service may also be adjusted depending on crowd levels and changes to the security and traffic arrangements over the weekend of September 26 and 27.
Schedules, routes, and any changes to the transit network will be announced by the City of Lourdes and the transit authorities. We recommend that you regularly check the information released as the event approaches to best plan your travels.
ENTER THE SANCTUARY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATIONS
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes will remain open during the Pope’s visit, but entry procedures will be temporarily adjusted to accommodate security measures.
The various gates of the Sanctuary may be opened according to specific procedures and schedules. Security checks will be in place at each entrance, including mandatory screening through security gates for all pilgrims.
To facilitate traffic flow and distribute visitor traffic, certain entrances may be prioritized or, conversely, temporarily closed depending on crowd levels and security requirements.
The open gates, access hours, and recommended routes will be provided in the practical information updates as Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, approach.
To make your visit easier, be sure to register and check the practical information provided by the Sanctuary regularly.
No, you do not need a badge to participate in the celebrations or to access areas open to the public. However, individuals with specific roles—such as volunteers, Sanctuary staff, concelebrating priests, media representatives, or technical crews—will be provided with a badge or specific accreditation depending on their role.
All pilgrims entering the Sanctuary must pass through the security checkpoints set up at the various entrance gates. Security checks will be conducted to ensure everyone’s safety during the Pope’s visit.
To make your arrival go smoothly, we recommend allowing plenty of time to go through these security checks.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes will remain open during the Pope’s visit, but certain access restrictions will be put in place starting Saturday, September 26, to allow for the installation of security measures and preparations for the celebrations.
As a result, certain areas of the Sanctuary may be temporarily closed or accessible only under specific conditions. The organization of this exceptional event will also result in changes to the usual schedules of certain celebrations and activities at the Sanctuary.
These adjustments are necessary to ensure everyone’s safety while allowing as many pilgrims as possible to experience this exceptional time in Lourdes. The Sanctuary will strive to maintain the usual rhythm of prayer and pilgrimage as much as possible.
The specific details regarding access to the various areas, as well as the adjusted schedules for celebrations, will be communicated in due course.
To make your visit easier, please remember to register and check regularly for practical information provided by the Sanctuary.
Yes. As a one-time exception, picnicking will be permitted on the Sanctuary Lawn on Sunday, September 27, to allow pilgrims who arrive several hours before Mass to have lunch on site and remain at the Sanctuary while waiting for the celebration.
Special attention will be paid to keeping the Prairie clean and managing waste. Each pilgrim is asked to keep their trash with them and to use the designated collection bins. We are counting on everyone to leave the area clean after their picnic.
For safety reasons, we recommend that you do not bring any sharp objects or items that could pose a danger. Security checks will be conducted at the Sanctuary’s entrances, and certain items may be refused.
To facilitate these checks and allow everyone to enter the Sanctuary quickly, we ask that you bring as few personal belongings as possible.
Yes. To allow as many pilgrims as possible to experience the Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV, numerous large screens will be set up throughout the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
A sound system will also be installed so that everyone can follow the celebration live, even if they cannot access the Prairie or if it has reached its maximum capacity.
Pilgrims will thus be able to see and hear the Pope’s Mass from various areas of the Sanctuary and fully participate in this great time of prayer.
A booklet for the celebration will also be distributed free of charge on site so that everyone can follow the liturgy and the hymns.
CARE SETTINGS TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL
During the Mass, designated areas will be set aside to allow residents of Lourdes and the Hautes-Pyrénées to participate in the Pope’s visit. Specific details regarding attendance and reservations will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Residents who wish to attend the Mass and celebrations with the Holy Father are warmly invited to join a group already organized by the parish closest to their home.
To find out about the available groups and how to participate, please contact your parish or reach out directly to the Diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes.
To best prepare for your visit—particularly regarding transportation, assistance, and access to the various areas of the Sanctuary—we recommend that you contact the Lourdes Hospitality office nearest to your home right away. The hospitality volunteers in your diocese can provide you with information and assist you in preparing for your pilgrimage.
You may also contact the OCH Foundation, located at the Sanctuary.
+33 (0)5 62 42 79 92 or lourdes@och.fr
Practical information regarding access, designated parking areas, and support services will be provided and regularly updated as the Pope’s visit approaches.
Priests who wish to concelebrate the Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV must register in advance.
To register as a concelebrating priest and receive practical information about the celebration, please visit the dedicated platform:
> Register as a concelebrating priest
Information regarding the concelebration—including the schedule, meeting locations, liturgical arrangements, and practical guidelines—will be provided to registered priests prior to the celebration.
