STORY: Pope Leo prayed at the Grotto of the Apparitions at the Catholic shrine in Lourdes on Saturday (September 26), ahead of his meeting with seven victims of clergy abuse.

Leo travelled to Lourdes after leading an outdoor Mass in Paris attended by an estimated 800,000 people, the largest event of his four-day, three-city visit to France. The trip was aimed to rebuild the Church's standing in the country after abuse scandals shocked France.

Footage showed a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes inside the grotto, where crowds gathered ahead of Pope's arrival, applauding and filming on their phones.

Leo prayed at the site, walked through the grotto and lit a candle.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LOURDES, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 26, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)(NIGHT SHOTS)

1. STATUE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES INSIDE THE GROTTO OF THE APPARITIONS

2. CROWD GATHERING AND WAITING FOR POPE LEO

3. CROWD APPLAUDING AND FILMING

4. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO ARRIVING AT GROTTO, PRAYING

5. CROWD FILMING

6. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO WALKING INSIDE GROTTO

7. POPE LEO LIGHTING A CANDLE