Meeting with Mayor Francois Amadie (14 August 1983)

On Sunday, 14 August 1983, the Holy Father met with François Amadie, the Mayor, thanking him, with all the residents of Lourdes for their kind welcome. 

Mr. Mayor,

Your kind words touch me deeply, and the presentation of this magnificent gold medal from the city of Lourdes will help to remind me of the happy memory of this visit. I express my sincere gratitude to you.

Please forgive me if I do not go further to visit your beautiful city, rich in testimonies of the past and modern developments. As a good pilgrim, I must first go to the precincts of the sanctuaries and my short stay will not give me the leisure to leave them.

But I know what the municipal authorities of Lourdes and the various city services have been able to achieve to cope with the enormous influx of pilgrims, today as in other circumstances. Because, without forgetting the other aspects of the life of your city, we can say that the destiny of Lourdes has been substantially modified since the unpredictable events of 1858 attracted crowds of believers, healthy and sick, from all countries. History tells us that, in her own city, Bernadette Soubirous encountered, at the beginning, many difficulties in being faithful to her mission received from Mary; today his testimony is even better attested, more moving. In any case, for a long time, city officials have understood the services that pilgrims expected from them. And I am not unaware, Mr. Mayor, of the active part that you take in this, with your Municipal Council. Not only do you have to resolve the multiple practical problems that are posed daily by pilgrimages. But the fact that your city has acquired the title of Marian city on the plane of the universe requires that the spiritual task that the Church has to accomplish in this place be facilitated, in different aspects.

In thanking you, I also thank all the residents of Lourdais who contribute to this welcome, and in particular the hoteliers who must demonstrate, with their staff, great availability, during periods of very busy activity - like this one - or on the contrary more slowed down. Together, you are the heirs of a tradition of hospitality towards pilgrims which characterizes the Pyrenees region and which undoubtedly dates back to the time of the movement of crowds towards Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims are not tourists like any other; many are of modest circumstances; and above all they have particular requirements with regard to respect for their religious approach.

God gave this city such a noble vocation! May its inhabitants, who are rightfully proud of it, respond as nobly as ever! May the Virgin help you! And I say to the people of Lourdes: may the Lord bless you and your families!

© Copyright 1983 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana