The 30th anniversary celebrations of the Shrines of Europe Association in Lourdes took on a unique cinematic dimension. On Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July, Le Palais Cinema welcomed residents and visitors to a free film marathon organised to celebrate the anniversary of the European network of shrine cities.
The event was officially opened by the Mayor of Lourdes, Thierry Lavit, in the presence of Fr. Père Daubanes, Rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, representatives of the local religious communities, and local elected officials.
In his opening address, the Mayor emphasised that Shrines of Europe is much more than a partnership between cities or a joint initiative to promote cultural heritage. It is a vibrant network of cooperation that, for the past thirty years, has fostered dialogue among Europe's shrine cities, enabling the development of shared cultural, tourism and educational projects while strengthening mutual understanding between their communities.
He also highlighted the importance of initiatives dedicated to young people. As an example, he referred to the participation of the FCL XI youth football team from Lourdes in the Tournament of Peace, held in Ourém–Fátima in June. He thanked Mayor Luís Albuquerque for the warm welcome extended to the young French players, stressing that exchanges such as these clearly demonstrate how European cooperation creates meaningful experiences for the younger generation.
The film programme was carefully selected to showcase different aspects of Europe's spiritual heritage.
The first evening featured "Fatima", directed by Marco Pontecorvo, which tells the story of the three young Portuguese shepherds and the Marian apparitions of 1917. Beyond its religious dimension, the film explores the social and political tensions that surrounded these events in Portugal. The cast includes Harvey Keitel, Goran Višnjić, and Sônia Braga.
Following an intermission, the audience watched the documentary "Lourdes" by Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai. The film offers a sensitive and intimate portrayal of the sanctuary as a place of hope, prayer and encounter for people seeking meaning, comfort and spiritual renewal.
The second day of the marathon was dedicated to Saint John Paul II. Audiences watched the biographical film tracing the life of Karol Wojtyła, from his youth in Poland, through the hardships of the Second World War and his priesthood, to the pontificate that left a profound mark on the history of Europe and the world. The production stars Jon Voight, Christopher Lee, and Daniele Pecci.
The film marathon was one of the events organised to mark the 30th anniversary of Shrines of Europe. It demonstrated how cinema can become a space for cultural dialogue, reflection on Europe's shared heritage, and conversations about the values that have formed the foundation of cooperation among the member shrine cities for the past three decades.
The celebration in Lourdes once again confirmed that Shrines of Europe builds bridges between the people of Europe through culture, education and shared initiatives, while promoting spiritual heritage as an essential part of Europe's contemporary identity.
