Pope shares physical weakness of pilgrims while praying at Lourdes

Published: 2004-08-16

LOURDES, France (CNS) -- Sharing the physical weakness of thousands of his fellow pilgrims at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope John Paul II prayed for comfort for those who suffer, for the protection of every human life and for peace in the world. Although he was fine for most of the Aug. 14-15 pilgrimage, his initial visit of the weekend to the Massabielle grotto, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous, was emotional and difficult. Pushed in his wheeled throne to the grotto and helped to his knees, the pope was able to stay erect for less than a minute. He began to slump over, and his private secretaries came to his assistance, lifting him back into his chair. Although the person needing assistance was special, the scene was repeated thousands of times over the weekend as teen and young adult volunteers known as "hospitaliers" pushed wheelchairs, lifted the sick with gentle care and used blue "chariots" -- similar to rickshaws -- to transport those unable to walk up and down the town's streets. The text the pope had prepared to read at the grotto was read instead by retired French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a longtime Vatican official.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .