Heat, emotion, crowds loosen etiquette during papal visit to Lourdes

Published: 2004-08-16

LOURDES, France (CNS) -- Heat, emotion and huge crowds dictated the loosening of some standards of proper pilgrim behavior at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Aug. 14-15, but getting in the way of a wheelchair was never tolerated. As more than 200,000 people crowded into the small town in the Pyrenees to pray with Pope John Paul II on a weekend when temperatures tipped toward the 90s, pilgrims were encouraged to be flexible. But not always. Amid prayers, sermons and songs in preparation for the pope's Aug. 14 rosary procession, priests serving at the shrine asked pilgrims spread along the route not to clap as the pope went by. The multilingual request, aimed at preserving an atmosphere of prayer, was just too much for many people to obey, but their applause was sharply stifled by an emphatic "Shhhh" from people around them. Most people in the crowd sat on folding chairs or on the ground, praying the rosary along with the pope, but it was not uncommon to see pilgrims kneeling on the grass or even on a concrete pathway during the 90-minute service. Pilgrims filing past police Aug. 15 to enter the meadow where Pope John Paul celebrated Mass were given a "pilgrim's sack" containing a souvenir candle, a Mass booklet, a 10-bead rosary ring and a large, heavy black plastic bag for garbage and trash.

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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .