From Friday May 24th to Sunday the 26th, the military chaplains will accompany the members of the armed forces and their families on the 55th International Pilgrimage to Lourdes, sponsored by the Military Ordinariate in this Year of Faith.
 
In his message for the event, Msgr. Vincenzo Pelvi, Archbishop Military Ordinary for Italy, recalled the words of St. Bernard: «In dangers, doubts and uncertainty, think of Mary, call upon Mary. If you follow her, you won’t get lost; by praying to her, you won’t fall into despair; thinking of her, you can’t go wrong».
 
Even the Archbishop Ordinary of France, Msgr. Luc Ravel, and the Archbishop Military Ordinary of the United States of America, Msgr. Timothy Paul Broglio, are among the pilgrims. The participants also include Dr. Carl A. Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal service organization, and a member of our Dicastery.
 
The Pontifical Council for the Family is represented there by the Secretary, Msgr. Jean Laffitte, who spoke last February in the context of the Day of Formation of the military chaplains in Paris, organized Military Ordinariate of France.