The Archbishop of Canterbury will become the first leader of the Church of England to make a pilgrimage to the Roman Catholic shrine of Lourdes this week.
The visit will be made as part of the Church's mission to achieve Christian unity, Lambeth Palace said.
Rowan Williams will preach at the International Mass on Wednesday, which is being celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
His presence at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Pyrenees in France coincides with its 150th anniversary celebrations....