Philippe Christory, bishop of Chartres, leaves for Lourdes: “We do not abandon the pilgrimage”

They are three times less numerous than usual, due to the health crisis. Two hundred pilgrims from the diocese of Chartres joined the sanctuary of Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées) on Saturday 23 August. Interview with the Bishop of Chartres, Monsignor Philippe Christory, a few days before his departure for the Marian city.

Many dioceses have canceled their pilgrimage to Lourdes due to the health crisis. Why did you decide to go there anyway?
We told ourselves that as long as there weren’t really any instructions preventing a group from going to Lourdes, we would continue the project. It is a pragmatic decision. We had to explain to the sick that they could only come if they were absolutely independent and that the hospital volunteers could not provide care while respecting the imposed sanitary conditions. Thirteen patients come instead of the usual 120.

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Does it still make so much sense to go there with so few patients?
We go there to accompany the sick, but also to pray for those who cannot come. We have set up a whole network to be in touch with the patients who stay at home. They will receive letters and phone calls.

How far are you going?
Many of our usual pilgrims are older retirees, who love Lourdes, and who, for reasons of prudence, refrain from coming this year. We are therefore on a more limited group. Overall, instead of having 600 people, there will be around 200. Among our pilgrims, there will be a group of young people.

What new resonance will this pilgrimage have?
The pilgrimage will be experienced differently, but it means a lot to us. The Church wants to be a communion of hearts. For these elderly people who often only had this annual trip to get out of their homes, it will be significant. We want to express our affection to these people held at home who are sometimes disabled. We tell them: “We do not abandon the pilgrimage because it is you that we are taking into our hearts. We are a bit of their ambassadors. We have collected prayer intentions that they were able to write and that we will put in the cave. We will really live these five days linked to all these people.

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What constraints will you have to respect?
The premises will be adapted to the size of the groups. We can’t touch the cave. We will be able to experience a lot of things one way or another. It will be original, but it is very good. Some have some apprehensions about Covid-19, like many citizens. The teams have worked a lot with Lourdes on health issues, so we are fully aware of the rules that will be imposed there and that will be respected. We are responsible people, capable of integrating the standards requested by the State.

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What theme will you think about during this pilgrimage?
We have chosen the expression “from consolation to hope”. We all need consolation in hardship. Some have had deaths, Covid patients or other things. Mourning was very hard for people to do during the lockdown, because there were no large celebrations possible. But, at the same time, we allow ourselves to be consoled by the Lord, by the Virgin Mary, and we look at life with hope.

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The Marian city has suffered greatly economically.
I heard the traders were at 80% less than sales. For the city of Lourdes, it is a terrible tragedy. We do not go there to support the place economically, but because it is important to pray in this marvelous sanctuary, where for 150 years the pilgrims have never stopped coming. We will continue to love this place in and go there.

Are you happy to go?
I am very happy. I like to interact with the pilgrims. I am their bishop, but above all I will be a pilgrim among them.

Helen Bonnet

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