 He was head of the Bureau from 1998 until his retirement in 2009.Italian-American paediatrician Dr. Alessandro ("Sandro") di Franciscis (born Naples, 1955) is the thirteenth doctor to head the Lourdes Medical Bureau, and the first non-Frenchman in that position.He succeeded Dr. Theillier on 10 February 2009 and was appointed by Bishop Jacques Perrier.