Pope Leo XIV places his trust in Robert Sarah, and he will be his new representative.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Robert Sarah as his special envoy for the commemorative celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of Saint Anne to the Breton peasant Yvon Nicolazic. The ceremonies will take place on July 25 and 26, 2025, at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray in the Diocese of Vannes, France.

With this appointment, the Pontiff expresses his trust and esteem for Cardinal Sarah, who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

A widely respected figure within the Church, the Guinean cardinal is known for his deep spirituality and fidelity to the Magisterium, which makes him a particularly suitable figure to preside over these celebrations of great historical and religious significance.

The Vatican emphasized that Cardinal Sarah, as the Pope's special envoy, will preside over the liturgical celebrations on July 25 and 26, which coincide with the feast of Saint Anne.

This gesture reflects not only the recognition of the spiritual importance of these apparitions, but also the Holy Father's intention to rekindle devotion to Saint Anne, grandmother of Jesus and a figure especially venerated in the Breton region.

According to Vatican News, the apparitions of Saint Anne to Nicolazic occurred between 1623 and 1625 in Pluneret, France. In one of them, Saint Anne appeared to the peasant, saying in Breton: "Me zo Anna Mam Mari" ("Do not be afraid; I am Anne, mother of Mary").

In her messages, she asked him to inform the parish priest about an old chapel in her honor that needed to be rebuilt, stating that God wished it to once again be a place of veneration and pilgrimage.

On July 25, 1624, on the eve of the feast of Saint Anne, one of the culminating moments of the apparitions took place. Subsequently, on March 7, 1625, Nicolazic discovered a statue of Saint Anne among the ruins of the old chapel in his field in Bocenno, which was interpreted as a divine confirmation of the events.

Since then, the place known as Keranna ("the village of Anne") was transformed into a pilgrimage center that, four centuries later, continues to attract thousands of faithful. The shrine highlights that devotion to Saint Anne already existed in the region before the apparitions, as evidenced by the remains of the old chapel and local traditions.

In 1996, Saint John Paul II visited the shrine, strengthening its importance within Catholic spirituality. Currently, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary, the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray is celebrating a Jubilee Year, with multiple devotional, cultural, and academic activities.

The sending of Cardinal Sarah as papal representative underscores the continuity of faith and devotion, and represents a clear sign that Pope Leo XIV wishes to strengthen popular spirituality and the historical memory of the Church.

The cardinal's presence at these celebrations will help reinforce the message of hope and renewal that Saint Anne conveyed four centuries ago and that still remains relevant for millions of believers today.