65th international military pilgrimage to Lourdes closed
The 65th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes was closed with a solemn ceremony and the symbolic extinguishing of the votive candle on Sunday, May 18, 2025
In afternoon hours on Sunday, 18 May 2025, the 65th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes was closed with a solemn ceremony and symbolic extinguishing of the votive candle.
The closing of the military pilgrimage began with ceremonial entry of the guards of honour of all participating countries with their flags and entry of military bands. In the second part of the programme, various participants in the international military pilgrimage testified what the pilgrimage to Lourdes meant to them.
Also, on Sunday morning, international Holy Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of St. Pius X for all soldiers present in the pilgrimage.
In the evening hours on Saturday, 17 May 2025, the Marian procession with candles and a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was held. As part of the procession, the plateau of the sanctuary was filled with military pilgrims from more than thirty countries around the world, where members of the Croatian Army, police, 100% Croatian War Invalids, war veterans, firefighters, members of the judicial police and other pilgrims from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina also participated.
The musical part of the program featured performances by the Croatian Army Orchestra, the St. Juraj Croatian Navy a cappella group, and the St. Mihovil police a cappella group.
Along with numerous members of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Commander of the pilgrimage, BG Valentin Skroza, the military pilgrimage in Lourdes was also attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Tomislav Galić and Vicar General of the Military Ordinariate in the Republic of Croatia, Monsignor Ilija Jakovljević.
