Tomorrow, Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap will lead the Order of Malta’s 66th international pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France for the second time since his election.

Some seven thousand people overall are expected to participate in this traditional event, in which the Order of Malta’s members and volunteers accompany Our Lords the Sick to the Grotto of Massabielle. The pilgrims arriving in Lourdes are from 46 different nations, including the Far East, and in particular from Hong Kong, as well as the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia, South America, from Iraq to Africa, besides Ukraine and all the European countries, including, for the first time, the three Baltic States, Sweden and Finland. The largest groups are French (1,300), Italian (1,300) and American (1,100).

There will be 1,200 malades, including 750 young people aged 8 to 35, as well as 230 priests, 12 deacons, 881 pilgrims, 231 doctors and 152 nurses.

The Pontifical Mass on Sunday will be celebrated by Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, Cardinal Patron of the Order of Malta; Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, former papal delegate, will also be present. In addition to the Grand Master, the members of the Sovereign Council, Monsignor Luis Manuel Cuña Ramos, new Prelate of the Order of Malta, and 23 bishops will be participating in the Marian pilgrimage.