Table 1

Christian European/Asian pilgrimages

CountryNumber of pilgrimsDuration/seasonSignificanceHealth risks reported
Vatican>5 million visiting the museums in 2022Throughout the yearBurial site of Saint Peter95 000 medical procedures reported in 2019 but no diagnosis published11
Marian Shrine of Lourdes, France5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian (Mary) apparition appeared to a peasant girlNorovirus outbreaks 2002 and 2008 including secondary cases and deaths12–14
Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian Shrine. 3 successive apparitions of Our Lady of the RosaryPhysical and psychological fatigue, accidents, musculoskeletal injuries15
Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora, Poland4.4 millionThroughout the yearIcon of the Black Madonna housed in monastery
Shrine of Divine Mercy, Poland2 millionThroughout the yearShrine of Saint Faustina
Shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain350 000 covering distances from 300 km to 800 kmThroughout the yearReputed burial place of Saint JamesAcute coronary syndrome, road traffic accidents of cyclists, exhaustion, stroke, drowning16,17
Medjugorje, Bosnia-HerzegovinaMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSolar apparitions, Apparition of Virgin MaryMaculopathy due to solar gazing18
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, IsraelMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSite of Jesus’ crucifixion and burialJerusalem syndrome (obsessive religious thoughts)19
Divine Mercy Shrine, Philippines500 000Throughout the yearHouses 50-foot Jesus Christ statue
Velankanni, India20 millionThroughout year, 3 million during week-long festivalMarian apparition
CountryNumber of pilgrimsDuration/seasonSignificanceHealth risks reported
Vatican>5 million visiting the museums in 2022Throughout the yearBurial site of Saint Peter95 000 medical procedures reported in 2019 but no diagnosis published11
Marian Shrine of Lourdes, France5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian (Mary) apparition appeared to a peasant girlNorovirus outbreaks 2002 and 2008 including secondary cases and deaths12–14
Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian Shrine. 3 successive apparitions of Our Lady of the RosaryPhysical and psychological fatigue, accidents, musculoskeletal injuries15
Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora, Poland4.4 millionThroughout the yearIcon of the Black Madonna housed in monastery
Shrine of Divine Mercy, Poland2 millionThroughout the yearShrine of Saint Faustina
Shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain350 000 covering distances from 300 km to 800 kmThroughout the yearReputed burial place of Saint JamesAcute coronary syndrome, road traffic accidents of cyclists, exhaustion, stroke, drowning16,17
Medjugorje, Bosnia-HerzegovinaMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSolar apparitions, Apparition of Virgin MaryMaculopathy due to solar gazing18
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, IsraelMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSite of Jesus’ crucifixion and burialJerusalem syndrome (obsessive religious thoughts)19
Divine Mercy Shrine, Philippines500 000Throughout the yearHouses 50-foot Jesus Christ statue
Velankanni, India20 millionThroughout year, 3 million during week-long festivalMarian apparition
Table 1

Christian European/Asian pilgrimages

CountryNumber of pilgrimsDuration/seasonSignificanceHealth risks reported
Vatican>5 million visiting the museums in 2022Throughout the yearBurial site of Saint Peter95 000 medical procedures reported in 2019 but no diagnosis published11
Marian Shrine of Lourdes, France5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian (Mary) apparition appeared to a peasant girlNorovirus outbreaks 2002 and 2008 including secondary cases and deaths12–14
Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian Shrine. 3 successive apparitions of Our Lady of the RosaryPhysical and psychological fatigue, accidents, musculoskeletal injuries15
Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora, Poland4.4 millionThroughout the yearIcon of the Black Madonna housed in monastery
Shrine of Divine Mercy, Poland2 millionThroughout the yearShrine of Saint Faustina
Shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain350 000 covering distances from 300 km to 800 kmThroughout the yearReputed burial place of Saint JamesAcute coronary syndrome, road traffic accidents of cyclists, exhaustion, stroke, drowning16,17
Medjugorje, Bosnia-HerzegovinaMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSolar apparitions, Apparition of Virgin MaryMaculopathy due to solar gazing18
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, IsraelMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSite of Jesus’ crucifixion and burialJerusalem syndrome (obsessive religious thoughts)19
Divine Mercy Shrine, Philippines500 000Throughout the yearHouses 50-foot Jesus Christ statue
Velankanni, India20 millionThroughout year, 3 million during week-long festivalMarian apparition
CountryNumber of pilgrimsDuration/seasonSignificanceHealth risks reported
Vatican>5 million visiting the museums in 2022Throughout the yearBurial site of Saint Peter95 000 medical procedures reported in 2019 but no diagnosis published11
Marian Shrine of Lourdes, France5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian (Mary) apparition appeared to a peasant girlNorovirus outbreaks 2002 and 2008 including secondary cases and deaths12–14
Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal5 million visitorsThroughout the yearMarian Shrine. 3 successive apparitions of Our Lady of the RosaryPhysical and psychological fatigue, accidents, musculoskeletal injuries15
Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora, Poland4.4 millionThroughout the yearIcon of the Black Madonna housed in monastery
Shrine of Divine Mercy, Poland2 millionThroughout the yearShrine of Saint Faustina
Shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain350 000 covering distances from 300 km to 800 kmThroughout the yearReputed burial place of Saint JamesAcute coronary syndrome, road traffic accidents of cyclists, exhaustion, stroke, drowning16,17
Medjugorje, Bosnia-HerzegovinaMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSolar apparitions, Apparition of Virgin MaryMaculopathy due to solar gazing18
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, IsraelMore than 1 millionThroughout the yearSite of Jesus’ crucifixion and burialJerusalem syndrome (obsessive religious thoughts)19
Divine Mercy Shrine, Philippines500 000Throughout the yearHouses 50-foot Jesus Christ statue
Velankanni, India20 millionThroughout year, 3 million during week-long festivalMarian apparition
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