“A people of many nations” is the title of the pilgrimage to Lourdes this year organized by military ordinaries in several countries. Some 12,000 soldiers from over 30 nations are expected to take part in the pilgrimage to the sanctuary at the foot of the Pyrenees. Continuing a practice begun, at the regional level, by French soldiers in 1944, the pilgrimage became international in 1958, on the occasion of the centenary of the Marian apparitions in the sanctuary. Since then it has grown from year to year, attracting ever more pilgrims. In its early days the pilgrimage was an occasion for reconciliation between soldiers, after a war that had devastated Europe. Accepting the invitation of the French military ordinary Patrick Le Gal, the pilgrims from Germany and Austrian will arrive at their destination aboard four special trains. Accompanied by the German military ordinary, Bishop Walter Mixa and by the representative of the Ministry of Defence Detlef Petry, 1,500 pilgrims, including 1,100 soldiers, will set out from the cities of Berlin, Münster, Regensburg and Salzburg. A further 600 soldiers will travel from Great Britain, Scandinavia, Italy, Holland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium, Austria and America. It will be possible to follow the pilgrimage, in real time, on the website www.militaerseelsorge.de/lourdes.
