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| Live from Lourdes: 25,000 pilgrims begin Assumption Day procession amid tight security | Live from Lourdes: 25,000 pilgrims begin Assumption Day procession amid tight security |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Catholics from around the world descend on Lourdes, France Monday for the Feast of the Assumption Procession, which will take place amid an unprecedented security operation by French authorities. | Catholics from around the world descend on Lourdes, France Monday for the Feast of the Assumption Procession, which will take place amid an unprecedented security operation by French authorities. |
| Watch the Procession LIVE on RT.com/On-air and Facebook Live | |
| This year, following months of deadly terrorist attacks throughout the country, authorities have upped security measures with a heavy police and army presence visible in the southern French city. | This year, following months of deadly terrorist attacks throughout the country, authorities have upped security measures with a heavy police and army presence visible in the southern French city. |
| More than 500 personnel have descended on Lourdes - 300 more than usual - including undercover agents and bomb disposal teams. | More than 500 personnel have descended on Lourdes - 300 more than usual - including undercover agents and bomb disposal teams. |
| READ MORE: Soldiers to patrol French beaches popular with British tourists amid terrorism alert | READ MORE: Soldiers to patrol French beaches popular with British tourists amid terrorism alert |
| There have been security checkpoints set up along the route of the procession, which is expected to attract 25,000 people. | There have been security checkpoints set up along the route of the procession, which is expected to attract 25,000 people. |
| Police helicopters are patrolling overhead in the hopes of preventing any attack. | Police helicopters are patrolling overhead in the hopes of preventing any attack. |
| A focal point for Catholic pilgrims across the globe, around 6 million pilgrims, many sick, disabled, and elders, flock to the shrine of the Virgin Mary seeking cures for their ailments from the holy water at the site’s natural spring. | A focal point for Catholic pilgrims across the globe, around 6 million pilgrims, many sick, disabled, and elders, flock to the shrine of the Virgin Mary seeking cures for their ailments from the holy water at the site’s natural spring. |
| "It's important to show that life goes on," said Lourdes official Matthieu Guignard. "It's not because a few fanatics try to sow fear that we should abandon our faith, our way of life." | "It's important to show that life goes on," said Lourdes official Matthieu Guignard. "It's not because a few fanatics try to sow fear that we should abandon our faith, our way of life." |
| Lourdes was the scene of an apparent apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the first time in 1858. Local teenager Bernadette Soubirous claimed to see her at a cave near the town and subsequently experienced more visions, with the Virgin Mary asking her to build a chapel at the scene. | Lourdes was the scene of an apparent apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the first time in 1858. Local teenager Bernadette Soubirous claimed to see her at a cave near the town and subsequently experienced more visions, with the Virgin Mary asking her to build a chapel at the scene. |
| After initial skepticism by the Catholic Church, the Vatican eventually accepted the provenance of the visions and has since formally recognized a number of ‘miracles’, where sick pilgrims have been cured after visiting the shrine. Soubirous was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933. | After initial skepticism by the Catholic Church, the Vatican eventually accepted the provenance of the visions and has since formally recognized a number of ‘miracles’, where sick pilgrims have been cured after visiting the shrine. Soubirous was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933. |
| This week’s celebrations mark the Virgin Mary’s ascension into heaven and involve many outdoor masses and processions to and from the Underground Basilica of St Pius and the grotto. | This week’s celebrations mark the Virgin Mary’s ascension into heaven and involve many outdoor masses and processions to and from the Underground Basilica of St Pius and the grotto. |