Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi celebrated mass at the Roman Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes in France on Sunday on the occasion of the international pilgrimage of the Order of Malta. The Order of Malta’s members and volunteers from all over the world travel each year during the first weekend of May to Lourdes. They accompany the sick and disabled and pray and bathe in the holy waters. Around 200 Lebanese, among them 24 sick people, took part in the five-day pilgrimage and attended Sunday's mass.

 

The 2014 international pilgrimage was attended by 25,000 faithful from all over the world. This year's event had a greater significance due to al-Rahi's attendance. [Link]