Catholic Church declares 72 medical miracles at Lourdes

In Southern France, over the last 163 years, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has been a notable site for claims of miraculous healings. The Catholic Church has officially recognized 72 medical miracles, separating them from over 7,000 recorded claims through rigorous medical documentation. A key aspect in these investigations is the office's strict criteria for determining what constitutes a miracle, which includes a severe diagnosis and a sudden, lasting, and unexplained recovery. In 2008, one such case involved Sister Bernadette Moriau, who, despite being confined to a wheelchair and exhausted from all treatment options, made a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Through a team of world-renowned doctors, Sister Moriau's case was thoroughly investigated and, ten years later, classified as one of the miracles recognized by the Church. The investigation process included a decade-long scrutiny by medical experts to confirm the lack of medical explanations for these alleged miracles. Skepticism remains regarding the validity and historical consistency of the Church’s criteria due to advancements in medical science that were not present in the late 1800s. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, who leads the investigations of these claims, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the evaluations, which are peer-reviewed and well-documented to support their conclusions. Despite skepticism, his findings have been recognized as credible by other scholars in the field. The Lourdes Office of Medical Observations continues to play a critical role in investigating claims of miraculous cures, ensuring that any recognized cases meet a substantial level of medical rigor. As attention to these miraculous claims grows, so does the public's curiosity, leading to an ongoing fascination with the intersection of faith and medicine in Lourdes.