From June 12 to 14, the Diocese of Pamplona and Tudela experienced its 71st Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, organized by the Navarrese Hospitality of Our Lady of Lourdes and presided over by Archbishop Don Florencio Roselló. A total of 250 pilgrims, including nearly 90 sick people and individuals with various care needs, accompanied by volunteers, family members, and hospitaliers, participated in this gathering that, year after year, becomes a school of the Gospel. Beyond the numbers, Lourdes presented itself as a place where heaven seems to touch the earth, suffering finds comfort, and human fragility gives way to the strength of faith.
Start of the journey and first events
The pilgrimage began on Thursday, June 12, when five buses departed from Pamplona heading to the French Marian shrine. The journey, filled with excitement and anticipation, brought together people with the desire to place themselves under the maternal gaze of the Virgin of Lourdes. Among the pilgrims traveled the sick, the true protagonists of this experience, who, despite their physical limitations or daily difficulties, undertook the journey with hope and trust. By their side, dozens of volunteers, some new and others veterans, made every transfer, meal, and gesture of care a reality. Also present were the Diocesan Chaplain of the Hospitality, Diego Jiménez, and priests Santiago Cañardo, Javier Sagasti, and Jorge Iriarte.
The arrival in Lourdes occurred at midday. After lunch and settling in, the pilgrimage was officially inaugurated with the Eucharist at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. There, before the Virgin, the Diocese placed in her hands the joys, concerns, and hopes of all Navarrese. The celebration was a first great moment of community encounter, where a Church that walks together, with the most vulnerable at the center, became visible. The day concluded with the torchlight procession, one of the most emblematic acts of the shrine. As night fell, thousands of faithful from different corners of the world walked the esplanade while prayers and songs dedicated to Mary resounded. Presided over by the Archbishop, numerous pilgrims carried the image of the Virgin and candles, in a moment of deep emotion and communion.
Friday: Mass at the Grotto and Way of the Cross
Friday dawned with one of the most anticipated moments: the Holy Mass at the Grotto, the site of the apparitions to Saint Bernadette. The emotion was palpable from the start, as celebrating the Eucharist next to the rock of the apparitions fulfills a long-awaited desire for many pilgrims. There, in a simple place but charged with spiritual meaning, the words of the Gospel and the prayer of a community united by the same faith resounded. After Mass, the Way of the Cross for the sick took place, where each station invited contemplation of Christ’s suffering and discovery of how that suffering is still present in so many people who carry the cross of illness, loneliness, or difficulties. However, Lourdes teaches that the cross never has the last word, and each station leads toward the hope of the Resurrection.
The afternoon was marked by the Eucharistic procession for the sick, which, due to the high temperatures, was held inside the Basilica of St. Pius X. There, before the Blessed Sacrament, the sick, volunteers, priests, and pilgrims shared an intense moment of adoration and prayer. Lourdes reminds us that true greatness lies in the ability to love and let oneself be loved, and few images are as eloquent as that of hundreds of people praying together, aware of their limitations but also of God’s infinite mercy. The day ended with the traditional bingo, a simple, joyful, and endearing moment that brought together the sick, the elderly, and volunteers, demonstrating that Lourdes is also about coexistence, friendship, and shared joy.
Last day: Anointing of the Sick and farewell
Original source: iglesianavarra.org (published June 17, 2026)
