- With "Lourdes United", the Marian sanctuary will offer on July 16 "the first e-pilgrimage in the world".
- The event, coupled with a call for donations, will be broadcast on TV channels and social networks around the world.
- This high place of Catholicism seeks to relaunch itself while the Covid-19 crisis deprives it of most of its resources.
The coronavirus realized what two world wars had failed to do: cause the closure of the sanctuary of Lourdes for two months, until May 16. And the consequences of Covid-19, between drastic health conditions and travel restrictions, have not stopped being felt, far beyond the Marian city of Hautes-Pyrénées.
“We know that we are going to have an almost white season, recognizes Archbishop Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector of the sanctuary reopened a month and a half ago. The pilgrimages are canceled one after the other, there will be none until July, and simply a few in August "The large collective trips, from France or abroad, are obviously not compensated by the individual visits. "Where usually we can count 20,000 people a day, we are at 3,000" calculates Archbishop Ribadeau Dumas.
15 hours live in five languages
Also, if the faithful do not come to Lourdes, Lourdes will come to them, with "the first world e-pilgrimage", on July 16. A date which corresponds to the anniversary of the eighteenth and last appearance of the Virgin Mary to the young shepherdess Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, according to the Catholic religion. Called “Lourdes United”, the event will consist of broadcasting 15 hours of non-stop live broadcast on television channels from around the world and social networks, in five languages (French, English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese).
On the program: masses, processions, prayer times of course, but not only. “From 4 to 6 pm [French time], a very rhythmic television program will be offered, explains the rector of the sanctuary. We will talk about the history of the site, behind the scenes and there will be guests, who have been marked by their experience in Lourdes. Gad Elmaleh's name has been put forward, but without further details at this time.
“Lourdes is not just a Catholic place. It is the image of the next world, in which the poorest and most fragile are in the first place, fraternity has an important role and spirituality is taken into account. The world needs Lourdes and at the same time, Lourdes needs the world to be able to restart and prepare for its future. "
Indeed, the “e-pilgrimage” of May 16 will also be the occasion for a very prosaic appeal for donations. The sanctuary expects eight million operating losses in 2020. "We are in an economy of donations, which is based on the offerings of pilgrims on the spot", launches the rector.
"One euro paid to the sanctuary is 12 euros for the city"
Inevitably, a low influx, despite a hoped-for return for the holidays of the Spanish and Italians, is accompanied by insufficient cash inflows. The site employs 320 people but its influence extends far beyond the Massabielle cave. “One euro paid to the sanctuary is 12 euros for the city, says the former spokesman for the Conference of Bishops of France. If the sanctuary restarts, the city restarts. "
The 2013 floods had dealt a severe blow to this town of approximately 14,300 inhabitants, which has the second largest hotel capacity in France after Paris, with some 22,000 beds. If the Covid-19 does less apparent damage, this invisible enemy will still leave more traces. "Suffering and illness will not have the last word," insists Archbishop Ribadeau Dumas.
Society
Deconfinement: The sanctuary of Lourdes reopens its doors to pilgrims this Saturday
Society
Coronavirus: How Lourdes and its pilgrims prepare for the epidemic
- Social media
- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- Church
- Christianity
- Lourdes
- Religion
- Catholicism
- Society