In Lourdes, Shopkeepers Bet on Record Crowds for Pope Leo XIV’s Visit

In Lourdes, in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of France, shopkeepers at the sanctuary are getting ready for an extraordinary weekend: Pope Leo XIV is set to visit the town on September 26 and 27, for an apostolic trip that could draw as many as 200,000 pilgrims and visitors, according to local organizers.

A Visit Confirmed by the Prefecture

The pope's visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has been officially confirmed by French state authorities in the Hautes-Pyrénées, who have released a practical guide for pilgrims. Organizing the event involves roughly 3,000 police officers and gendarmes, with security costs estimated at 3.7 million euros, jointly covered by the state and the local authorities involved.

Shopkeepers Count on the Boost from the Big Gathering

As with the Braderie de Lille, where a massive influx of visitors directly benefits downtown businesses, shops in Lourdes — largely focused on religious crafts, medals, and pilgrimage souvenirs — are hoping for an exceptional weekend. Many still remember John Paul II's visit in 2004, when some businesses saw their revenue jump by nearly 30%. Business owners remain cautious, however: the economic payoff from such an event isn't always immediate, since some pilgrims arrive in organized groups with a budget already set before they get there.

A Model Close to Pilgrimage Tourism

The phenomenon isn't an isolated one: several French travel agencies, including those specializing in organizing pilgrimages to holy sites, have seen steadily rising demand for this type of trip with a strong spiritual dimension in recent years. As with the big festive events in towns like Bayonne, where local festivals boost business for shopkeepers for a weekend, the challenge for Lourdes is to turn a one-time surge in visitors into lasting benefits for its local economy.

• 150,000 to 200,000 people expected in Lourdes the weekend of September 26-27
• About 3,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilized for security during the visit
• Security budget estimated at 3.7 million euros
• Historical benchmark: a 30% increase in revenue for businesses during the 2004 visit

For the town, whose economy remains heavily dependent on religious tourism, this visit is a real-world test: confirming that Lourdes retains its status as the second-largest Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, capable of mobilizing its local businesses to match the scale of the event.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pope Leo XIV visit Lourdes?

His visit is scheduled for the weekend of September 26 and 27, as part of an apostolic trip confirmed by French state authorities in the Hautes-Pyrénées.

How many people are expected?

Local estimates put the number between 150,000 and 200,000 pilgrims and visitors over the course of the weekend.

What economic impact are Lourdes shopkeepers expecting?

They're hoping for an effect similar to the 2004 visit, when some businesses saw their revenue rise by nearly 30%, though they remain cautious about how quickly the benefits will show up.

Sources

Prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées —
France 3 Occitanie —
France 24

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence. Editorial policy