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On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Saint Anne’s apparitions to Yvon Nicolazic, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Robert Sarah as his special envoy to the sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray in Brittany. This announcement, made on Saturday, May 24, marks a significant moment for the Diocese of Vannes and for all the faithful devoted to this prominent pilgrimage site.

A Symbolic Mission for a Jubilee Year

Scheduled for July 25 and 26, Cardinal Sarah’s visit—he is the Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments—will take place as part of the jubilee celebrations of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray. He will preside over the grand procession and pontifical Mass on Saturday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m. This event, a key moment of the annual “Grand Pardon,” will be especially significant this year in light of the jubilee.

A Sanctuary Rich in History

The sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray was established in the 17th century at the site of Saint Anne’s reported apparitions to a humble Breton farmer, Yvon Nicolazic. According to tradition, the first apparition occurred in August 1623 at a village fountain in Keranna, in the commune of Pluneret. Holding a torch, Saint Anne introduced herself with the words, “Me zo Anna Mam Mari”—“I am Anne, mother of Mary.” She asked that a chapel once dedicated to her, and destroyed nearly a thousand years earlier, be rebuilt.

In 1625, an ancient statue of Saint Anne was miraculously discovered among the ruins of Bocenno, and a new chapel was inaugurated three years later. The site gained national prominence in the 19th century, particularly after the visit of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie in 1858, followed by the construction of the present basilica, which was consecrated in 1877.

A Major Milestone in the Sanctuary’s History

Over the centuries, Sainte-Anne-d’Auray has welcomed several prominent Church figures, including Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Roncalli (the future Pope John XXIII) in 1949, and Saint John Paul II during his apostolic journey to France in 1996. These visits testify to the spiritual significance of the sanctuary, whose influence extends far beyond the borders of Brittany.

A Youth Pilgrimage Toward Rome

Cardinal Sarah’s visit will coincide with the Sainte-Anne Festival, dedicated to young people aged 16 to 30. The sanctuary will serve as a starting point for many pilgrims en route to Rome as part of the Church’s universal Jubilee of Hope. This pilgrimage to the heart of Christianity carries forward Saint Anne’s enduring message: “God wishes to be honored here.”

Abbé Paul DAH
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