The Pope "marked by suffering" greets the infirm before the grotto
Lourdes (AsiaNews) The Pope, visibly suffering, prayed in a long pause of silence before the Massabielle grotto, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette. The fatigued Pope did not lead the Angelus, or give words of greeting to the sick and pilgrims present. It was Cardinal Ethegaray who read the Pontiff's speech. Speaking to the infirm, the pope says: "I am with you, dear brothers and sisters, as a pilgrim to the Virgin. I make your hopes and prayers mine; I share with you the time of life marked by physical suffering, but not less fruitful in God's plan. Together with you, I pray for those who have entrusted themselves to our prayers."
The Pope arrived at the Shrine at 12:45 from Tarbes airport, where he met President Chirac. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, many young people, greeted him as he passed. Silence and prayer before the Grotto followed the songs, prayers, applause, and flag-waving.
As a common pilgrim, the Pope drank the water from the spring offered to him by Father Raymond Zambelli, the rector of the Shrine. Later the Holy Father gave the "golden rose", in honor of the Immaculata, to Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Mons. Jacques Perrier.
After the Angelus, and the sung Salve Regina, the Pope went via popemobile towards l'Accueil Notre Dame, the residence for infirm pilgrims within the Shrine.
The greetings, read by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, which Pope John Paul II gave to the infirm follow:
Here at this Grotto of Massabielle, I wish first of all to greet the sick who come in ever greater numbers to this Shrine, those who have accompanied them, their caregivers and their families.
I am here with you, dear brothers and sisters, as a pilgrim to Our Lady. I make my own your prayers and your hopes. With you I share a time of life marked by physical suffering, yet not for that reason any less fruitful in God's wondrous plan. With you I pray for all those who trust in your prayers.
In carrying out my apostolic ministry I have always trusted greatly in the offerings, prayers and sacrifices of the suffering. During this pilgrimage I ask you to join me in offering to God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, all the intentions of the Church and of the world.
Dear brothers and sisters who are sick, how I would like to embrace each and every one of you with affection, to tell you how close I am to you and how much I support you. I now do so in spirit, entrusting you to the maternal love of the Mother of the Lord and entreating her to obtain for all of us the blessings and consolations of Jesus her Son.
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