Medical Miracles at The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

For over 164 years, the Catholic Church has recognized more than 70 medical miracles linked to The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France. Annually, 4 million pilgrims journey to the town, drawn by stories of miraculous recoveries.

In 2022, correspondent Bill Whitaker reported on the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations. This office conducts extensive investigations into countless claims of cures, classifying as miracles those that defy current medical explanations.

The office, overseen until February 2026 by Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, a seasoned pediatrician and epidemiologist, acknowledged two more miracles since 2022. This brought the total number recognized by the Catholic Church to 72.

As President of the office, Dr. de Franciscis stated, “We are looking for a diagnosis, particularly of severe diseases with poor prognoses. We confirm if the person was cured suddenly, completely, and enduringly, with no possible medical explanation.”

Out of over 7,000 recorded claims of cures, few bear the evidence and scrutiny needed to be termed miracles. The rigorous documentation and a patient’s willingness to undergo thorough examination distinguish these cases.

Medical Cases Classified as Miracles

The recognized miracles at Lourdes have long been analyzed. Skeptics note the less rigorous medical science of the late 1800s, yet no one has disproved the office’s findings.

Dr. Esther Sternberg, a leading scholar in mind-body connections, reviewed the reliability of Lourdes’ medical records with her team. In 2014, they published their findings in the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences.

Dr. Sternberg noted, “As medical science advanced, diagnosing unexplained cures progressed. The office added layers of evaluation and prolonged follow-ups.” Her analysis affirmed the credibility of their conclusions.

While covering the story in 2022, producers Nichole Marks and John Gallen interviewed four living individuals whose cases are recognized as miracles. These include:

• Vittorio Micheli, who recovered from osteosarcoma in 1963
• Sister Luigina Traverso, cured of paralysis in 1965
• Delizia Cirolli, whose cancerous tumor vanished in 1976
• Sister Bernadette Moriau, cured of Cauda Equina in 2008

By 2022, all reported being in good health, free from their initial diseases. The findings highlight the emblematic impact of the Lourdes miracles, as documented by 60 Minutes.