LOURDES (OSV News): “Sudden rise in the waters of the Gave de Pau flooded the Grotto and the Sanctuary,” the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France, posted on September 7 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
River flooding forced the temporary closure of the grotto however, the shrine complex remained open to visitors. A morning Mass, however, was cancelled at the site which has experienced several major floods in recent years.
A notice on the sanctuary’s website also read, “Flooding. Sanctuary doors remain open. Information on site,” with a photo showing the grotto partially submerged in water. Livestreamed video from the grotto on the afternoon of September 7 showed that the flood waters had receded, as it showed water from the adjacent Gave de Pau river rushing along but contained by a berm in front of the grotto’s plaza as workers used machinery to clean the area.
Later that day, the shrine released a statement saying that the grotto had been cleaned and was reopened, adding that no pilgrimages had been cancelled. “The emergency flood protection plan has proved its effectiveness,” the statement read. “Celebrations will resume at the usual times, in all the Shrine’s basilicas and places of worship.”
Sudden rise in the waters of the Gave de Pau flooded the Grotto and the Sanctuary … Flooding. Sanctuary doors remain open. Information on site
After the September 8 Mass in Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis said: “Our thoughts are with the shrine of Lourdes, which has unfortunately been hit by a flood.”
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a 130-acre shrine complex that includes 22 places of worship, including three basilicas. The Gave de Pau bends sharply around the shrine, skirting the grotto on the sanctuary’s north side. According to La Croix, a French Catholic media outlet, hundreds of pilgrims have been evacuated from their hotels.
“The city is frequently subject to flooding and has adopted procedures related to this risk,” La Croix reported.
Around six million people visit Lourdes annually.While thousands of healings related to the waters have been reported, about 70 have been confirmed by the special medical commission permanently working at the shrine.
The option of full immersion at the shrine’s baths was recently restored following its suspension during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The low-lying grotto has experienced major flooding in recent decades. Flooding in October 2012 caused about US$3 million in damages.
Flooding the following year, in June 2013, was much more extensive with the river rising 4.5 metres, flooding the grotto and other holy sites, including the sanctuary’s Basilica of St. Pius X, which is largely underground.
Flooding was also reported in September 2014 during a record-breaking rainfall. On 13 June 2018, the river rose nearly three metres and flooded the grotto, but the sanctuary’s flood defenses helped to prevent damage and protect the spring, and the grotto was reopened the following evening.
