05/05/2026
The Catholic Church in Cameroon on May 2 marked a historic moment as the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and the relics of St. Bernadette Soubirous were solemnly received in Yaoundé Archdiocese, drawing a large and fervent gathering of the faithful.
The celebration took place at the Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica of Yaoundé Archdiocese where Bishops, Priests, women and men Religious, Seminarians, Marian groups, Church associations, civil authorities, and lay faithful gathered from early morning to witness what has been described as a moment of grace for the nation.
Presiding over the opening of the celebration, the Local Ordinary of Yaoundé Archdiocese, Archbishop Jean Mbarga said, “Today, Lourdes is in Cameroon, Lourdes is in Yaoundé.”
The visit is part of a global mission initiated by the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which, since 2017, has been bringing the spiritual presence of the Virgin Mary to different parts of the world.
Fr. Emmanuel, an envoy of the shrine, described the event as “a special blessing for the Church in Cameroon.”
Organizers emphasized the unprecedented nature of the occasion, noting that this is the first time the relics of St. Bernadette have been brought to Africa.
They also announced that, exceptionally, the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes will remain in Cameroon after its tour across ten Dioceses, already bearing the invocation, “Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for Cameroon.”
In his homily, Archbishop Mbarga reflected on the spiritual significance of the visit, highlighting the power of Marian devotion and the meaning of relics in the Christian life.
“Mary is so powerful!” he said, before explaining, “By welcoming this relic, we express the desire to see God dwell in our own lives.”
The Archbishop of Yaoundé also shared a personal testimony from his pilgrimage to Lourdes, describing it as a sign of the Virgin Mary’s care and closeness to her people.
“Through St. Bernadette, it is the Virgin Mary who visits her people and reminds us that hope never disappoints,” he said.
The relics and statue arrived on the night of May 1 at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport.
During the solemn reception ceremony at the airport, Bishop François Achille Eyabi of the Catholic Diocese of Eséka described the event as “a time of grace and visitation” for the people of God in Cameroon.
“We are particularly happy and deeply moved to welcome here, through this solemn celebration, the Beautiful Lady of Lourdes, as well as the Relics of Saint Bernadette,” Bishop Eyabi said.
He added, “Her presence reminds us that God never ceases to visit His people: He comes to meet us, He enters our history and our concrete realities to rekindle in us faith, hope, and charity.”
Following the airport reception, a solemn procession accompanied the statue and relics from Nsimalen to the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Mvolyé, Yaoundé, where thousands of faithful gathered for an overnight vigil of prayer and devotion.