Every day, twice a day, morning and evening thousands (!) of people line up for a procession around the gardens and through the huge complex ending in the area in front of the Cathedral. Loud speakers Everywhere blare organ music and songs in language after language.
The church organizes nuns and nurses for all who wish to come to Lourdes no matter what the condition of the patient. Everywhere I saw people in wheelchairs, on crutches, with oxygen and hospital drips, being attended by these volunteers.
France in general does not encourage a terribly multi-cultural environment but in Lourdes I saw people from every continent and of every shade and shape who all had such a similar reverential expression that I couldn’t help but appreciate our common face.