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Pope to celebrate Mass in Lourdes Pope holds huge Mass in Lourdes
(1 day later)
Pope Benedict XVI has joined pilgrims in the southern French town of Lourdes, one of the most revered Roman Catholic shrines, on a visit to the country. Pope Benedict XVI has told tens of thousands of pilgrims in the southern French town of Lourdes that love can be stronger than all the world's evil.
The pontiff is in the town to mark the 150th anniversary of what many Roman Catholics believe was a vision of the Virgin Mary by a young local girl. The 81-year-old pontiff gave the homily during an open-air Sunday Mass at the highly-revered Roman Catholic shrine.
The Pope is to say Sunday Mass in Lourdes. On Saturday, he held an open-air Mass in the capital, Paris. Benedict is in Lourdes to mark the 150th anniversary of what many Roman Catholics believe was a vision of the Virgin Mary by a young local girl.
It is the pontiff's first visit to France since his election in 2005. On Saturday, he also celebrated an outdoor Mass in the capital, Paris.
After his arrival in Lourdes, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Benedict XVI prayed at the Grotto of Massabielle, also known as the Cave of Apparitions. More than 200,000 pilgrims made the trip to Lourdes for Benedict's first papal Mass at the shrine.
About 200,000 pilgrims have made the trip to the town, hoping to see the Pope's first visit to the shrine. The pontiff is making a three-day pilgrimage to the sanctuary, which is visited each year by six million believers.
Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power and even for knowledge, diverted man from his true destiny? Pope Benedict XVI In pictures: Pope in France There is a love in this world that is stronger than death, stronger than our weakness and sins Pope Benedict XVI In pictures: Pope in France
More than 3,000 police officers have been mobilised to oversee the papal Mass. The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby at Lourdes says Benedict looked elated and moved by the rapturous welcome he received from the crowds - some of the faithful had queued through the night to make ensure their place.
France is a Roman Catholic country but Sunday Mass attendance is now below 10% and strict laws separate Church and state. Security has been tight, with more than 3,000 police officers drafted in to the area.
'Pagan' idols After his arrival at the shrine, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Benedict prayed at the Grotto of Massabielle, also known as the Cave of Apparitions.
The Pope told the crowds in Paris that he was delighted to be in France before going on to condemn as a modern-day plague the passion for power, possessions and money. The riverside site is where 14-year-old peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous told local clergy in 1858 the Virgin Mary had appeared to her.
Advertisement When he arrived on Saturday night, Benedict also drank water from a spring that believers say has miraculous healing powers.
Thousands gather to hear the Pope's Paris mass href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_enl_1221389168/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_enl_1221389168/html/1.stm', '1221389331', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=780,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated his first Mass at Lourdes href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_enl_1221389168/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_enl_1221389168/html/1.stm', '1221389331', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=780,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
"Has not our modern world created its own idols?" he asked in his address. Saying Mass from under white canopies shaped like sails, the Pope told his listeners to be true to their faith because "it tells us that there is a love in this world that is stronger than death, stronger than our weakness and sins".
"Has it not imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity, by diverting man from his true end, from the joy of living eternally with God... He said: "The power of love is stronger than the evil which threatens us."
"Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power and even for knowledge, diverted man from his true destiny?" Pope Benedict arrived in Paris on Friday for his first visit to France since becoming Pope in 2005. He was welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whom he praised for promoting the role of religion in society.
Arriving in Paris on Friday, the Pope was met by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whom he praised for promoting the role of religion in society.
France staunchly upholds a 1905 law that enshrines the separation of Church and state, but Mr Sarkozy has supported efforts to ease the country's strict secularism law.France staunchly upholds a 1905 law that enshrines the separation of Church and state, but Mr Sarkozy has supported efforts to ease the country's strict secularism law.
Before his visit, a French newspaper poll showed that more than half of those questioned had a positive view of Benedict XVI. France is a Roman Catholic country but Sunday Mass attendance is now below 10%.
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