Story preview
Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage
About this story
- Published
- Sep 26, 2026, 9:48 PM UTC
Continue reading on the publisher site for the full article.
At a glance
Coverage
Tone
Background
Context from Wikipedia on the organisations, people and places in this story.
Lourdes
Commune in Occitania, France
Lourdes is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment at its center.
More on Wikipedia ↗
Paris
Capital of France
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), as of January 2026, and a metropolitan population of 13.3 million (2023). Located on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU). Paris is nicknamed the "City of Light" mainly due to its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment.
More on Wikipedia ↗