Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes' medical miracles
Bill Whitaker reports on the unexplained healings that have occurred at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in the south of France, and the team of world-renowned doctors and researchers who investigate the claims of cures.
Updated on: August 2, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News
This is an updated version of a story first published on Dec. 18, 2022. The original video can be viewed here .
After decades of devastating global conflicts and increasing political partisanship, you'd be forgiven for giving up on the idea of miracles.... but tonight, we'll take you to a place that's known for them. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Southern France is the site of 72 medical miracles recognized by the Catholic Church. The Marian Shrine is famous to the faithful, but less well known is the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations. We first told you in 2022, that's where world-renowned doctors and researchers conduct decade-long investigations into the countless claims of cures reported over the years. They determine which cases can be medically explained and which cannot - it's those, church officials might call a miracle. For the doctors, it's a lesson in the limits of medicine. For the devout, it's divine intervention.
The small french town of Lourdes, tucked in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, draws 4 million pilgrims a year, more than travel to Mecca for the Hajj or to Jerusalem. And almost everyone you meet will tell you they've heard stories of miracles here, but we heard none more inspiring than that of Sister Bernadette Moriau.
Sister Bernadette Moriau (Translation): I really tried everything I could. But this is something that cannot be healed.
Sister Bernadette Moriau (Translation): Full, total paralysis. The prognosis was really dark.