Vatican City, Nov 13, 2007 / 09:21 am
A press conference took place in the Holy See Press Office this morning to discuss the program of celebrations organized to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Viring Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France.
Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes indicated that for the 150th anniversary a Jubilee Year will be held, due to run from December 8, 2007, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, to December 8, 2008, and "to take place within the context of the new evangelization."
Regarding the possibility of a pilgrimage by the Pope to Lourdes for the 150th anniversary, Bishop Perrier confirmed that Benedict XVI would visit "though we still do not know the exact date."
“The mission of the Church in each of these fields," he added, "will become apparent during the Jubilee Year with pilgrimages, meetings and initiatives." For example "the mission of the Church to the sick will be made manifest thanks to the UNITALSI (Italian National Union for Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines) pilgrimages," and missions are also envisaged with volunteers, with young people, with the disabled, to appeal for unity among Christians, to call for conversion, for peace, etc.