Pilgrimage has long been part of the Jubilee experience, and the Jubilee 2025 has the eloquent motto “Pilgrims of Hope”.  The Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela is one of the most famous in the world. It is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year.

Among the many pilgrimage routes that crisscross the globe, the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, holds a special place. Winding through the beautiful landscapes of Northern Spain to the revered shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Camino is more than just a path for devout Christians. It has become a meeting ground for people of all faiths, as well as those who don’t adhere to any particular religion. This remarkable diversity raises a fascinating question: What is it about the Camino that draws so many different people to its trails?

Group of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Photo: 123rf

For Christians, pilgrimage has always been about more than just reaching a physical destination. It’s a journey that mirrors the inner spiritual journey – a path to come closer to God, to seek forgiveness, or to offer thanks. This tradition can be traced back to the earliest days of Christianity, with pilgrims travelling to sites associated with the life of Jesus Christ. The Camino de Santiago, established in the 9th century after the discovery of St. James’ tomb, quickly became one of Christendom’s most important pilgrimage routes. During the medieval period, walking the Camino was seen as a way to atone for sins, and the journey itself was imbued with deep spiritual significance.
Walking the Camino is often described by pilgrims as a profound spiritual experience. The journey is punctuated by rituals such as receiving the Compostela – a certificate that recognizes the pilgrim’s effort after completing at least 100 kilometres on foot or 200 kilometres by bicycle. This recognition serves not just as a physical token of the journey but as a symbol of the spiritual renewal that many pilgrims experience along the way.

Walking becomes a kind of therapy, offering a chance to reflect, to heal, and to grow. Pixabay

Interestingly, the Camino de Santiago has a universal appeal that extends far beyond the Christian community. In recent years, there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of pilgrims who come from diverse religious backgrounds, or who don’t identify with any religion at all. This surge can be partly attributed to a growing desire for personal growth, adventure, and a break from the relentless pace of daily life. The Camino provides a rare opportunity to disconnect from modern distractions and reconnect with oneself on a deeper level.
For many non-religious pilgrims, the Camino is less about a religious journey and more about seeking answers to life’s big questions. It’s a place where people can explore their purpose, reflect on their lives, and find peace in the simplicity of walking.
The historical and cultural richness of the Camino also plays a significant role in attracting these pilgrims. The route is often seen as a living museum, offering a tangible connection to centuries of European history and culture. The idea of pilgrimage is evolving in today’s world. It’s no longer confined to those seeking religious salvation; it’s also about personal exploration and healing. Many modern pilgrims approach the Camino as a form of meditation, a time to step away from their hectic lives and reconnect with their inner selves.

The Camino de Santiago has become a meeting ground for people of all faiths. 123rf

Walking becomes a kind of therapy, offering a chance to reflect, to heal, and to grow. The act of walking–slow, deliberate, and unhurried–provides a stark contrast to the speed of modern life, allowing for a deeper connection with nature and oneself.
This is where the Camino’s real power lies: in its ability to meet each pilgrim where they are, offering something unique to everyone who walks its paths. Whether it’s the physical challenge, the solitude, or the community of fellow pilgrims, the Camino offers a space for reflection and transformation. It’s a journey where each step becomes a metaphor for the challenges and triumphs of life.
The Camino de Santiago is not just a modern phenomenon; it’s a path steeped in history, stretching back over a thousand years. Its origins are tied to the discovery of St. James’ relics in the early 9th century, which sparked the creation of a sanctuary in his honour.
During the Middle Ages, the Camino became one of the most significant pilgrimage routes in Europe, attracting pilgrims from all over the continent. These medieval pilgrims faced numerous challenges, from the threat of bandits to harsh weather, but these difficulties were often seen as part of the spiritual journey, a test of faith and endurance.

The Scallop Shell is used as a symbol of direction along the Camino, pointing pilgrims towards Santiago. Photo: 123rf

However, the popularity of the Camino waned during the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment, periods when pilgrimage was viewed with suspicion or indifference. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the Camino experienced a revival, driven by a renewed interest in spirituality, cultural heritage, and tourism.
One of the remarkable aspects of the Camino is the variety of routes available, each offering a unique experience. Here’s a glimpse into some of the most well-known paths:
Camino Frances (The French Way): The most famous and widely travelled route, the Camino Frances begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and stretches across approximately 800 kilometres of stunning landscapes, including the Pyrenees, rolling plains, and vibrant Spanish cities like Pamplona, Burgos, and León. This route is beloved not just for its historical significance but also for its accessibility and the strong sense of community among pilgrims.
Camino Portugues (The Portuguese Way): Starting in Lisbon, this route takes pilgrims through some of Portugal’s most beautiful and historic cities, including Porto, before crossing into Spain at Tui. The Camino Portugues offers a mix of coastal and inland scenery and is known for being less crowded than the Camino Frances, making it a great choice for those seeking a quieter journey.
Camino Portugues Coastal Way: This variant of the Portuguese Way follows the stunning Atlantic coastline from Porto, offering pilgrims breathtaking ocean views and the chance to walk along sandy beaches and seaside boardwalks. It’s a route that appeals to those who love the sea and want a relatively flat and scenic journey.

Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims in the Plaza del Obradoiro. Photo: 123rf

Camino del Norte (The Northern Way): Also known as the Ruta de la Costa, this route traces the northern coast of Spain, beginning in Irun and passing through vibrant cities like San Sebastián and Bilbao. It’s a route favoured by those who enjoy coastal scenery and don’t mind the physical challenge of hilly terrain.
Camino Primitivo (The Original Way): The oldest of the pilgrimage routes, the Camino Primitivo begins in Oviedo and is known for its challenging mountainous terrain. It’s a less-traveled path ideal for those seeking solitude, stunning natural beauty, and a deep sense of connection to the Camino’s ancient roots.
Camino Ingles (The English Way): This route starts in the port towns of Ferrol or A Coruña and was historically used by English, Irish, and Scandinavian pilgrims. It’s a shorter route but rich in history and offers beautiful coastal and rural scenery as it winds its way to Santiago.
The Camino de Santiago is a journey that touches the soul. Whether walking for religious reasons, personal growth, or simply the joy of being outdoors, the Camino has a way of leaving a lasting impression on all who undertake it.
It’s a place where the past and present meet, where different cultures and beliefs intersect, and where each pilgrim’s journey becomes part of a larger tapestry of human experience. In a world that often feels disconnected, the Camino offers a reminder of the power of simplicity, the importance of reflection, and the beauty of walking a path that has been travelled by so many before us. (Open Photo: Pixabay)

Marlon Bobier Vargas

He will be canonised with Carlo Acutis on 7 September. A joyful character and lover of nature, Pier Giorgio renounced his privileged position to dedicate his life to the poor. He inspired thousands of youths, relatable in his humble lifestyle yet blessed with an extraordinary personality.

Born into a well-off family in April 1901. His father, Alfredo, owned the famous Italian newspaper La Stampa, served in the Italian Senate, and was Italian ambassador to Germany. His mother, Adelaide, was an artist whose works were sought after by Italian royalty.
One can imagine that such a child, with only one sibling (a sister born in August 1902), could have grown to be a spoilt brat. Instead, he was generous with all that he had. He gave the very shoes off his feet to a woman begging with her barefoot child and persuaded his mother to care for a drunk man who turned up on the Frassati doorstep.

He was “just one of the boys.” Archive

And lest we imagine that this was all due to a pious ethos in the household, the story goes that his father, an atheist, had turned that drunk man away. A Catholic influence saw him receive his first Holy Communion in 1911. Young Frassati seems to have been a bit of a class joker, which led to him failing his exams.
He was then sent to a Jesuit school for private tuition. Perhaps this Jesuit influence shaped what he would become in his teens and early twenties. His track record is one that most teenage boys and young men will never achieve; yet while we read his inspirational words and note his close following of the Beatitudes (St John Paul II called him “The Man of the Eight Beatitudes”), there is an overriding impression that he exuded the notion that he was
“just one of the boys.”

Choices of life.
The choices he made in his life have the power to “awaken us from our lethargy”. Firstly, there was his spiritual life. If we remember that his father was an avowed atheist, it is most likely that he was sent to the Jesuit school simply to get better exam results. But he was open to all that Catholicism had to offer and joined the Marian Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer. At a time when it was rarely permitted, he impressed the clerical hierarchy sufficiently to allow him to receive daily Communion. The fact that as a teenager, he sought this is evidence enough of the depth of his faith. Nor was he reticent about sharing that faith with his friends.

Pier Giorgio Frassati (C) with friends. Archive

When he was 17, he joined the St Vincent de Paul Society and his free time was spent serving the sick and those in need, caring for orphans, and for returning World War I soldiers. He studied to become a mining engineer at the Royal Polytechnic University of Turin. He was not following in either Dad’s or Mum’s footsteps, but he confided in a friend that he could “serve Christ better among the miners”. He joined the Catholic Student Foundation, but to participate in political activism, he also became a member of a group called Catholic Action. This was after all the young man who had said, “Charity is not enough; we need reform.” And to underpin all of that, he became active in the People’s Party which promoted the Catholic social teaching that followed Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum.

Care for the poor.
He gave of his cash, and he gave of himself. The family owned a holiday home at Pollone in the countryside near Turin. Pier Giorgio didn’t join the family, he devoted himself instead to caring for the marginalised, the poor, the sick. Of the summer exodus from the city, he said, “If everybody leaves Turin, who will take care of the poor?” However, he did have his hiding place from the city. Pier Giorgio was a skilled mountaineer, swimmer and athlete. He climbed mountains such as the Grand Tournalin (3,379 metres or 11,086 feet) and Monte Viso, which is the 10^th highest mountain in the Alpine range, and invited friends along on what seemed to occasionally become spiritual retreats. But, as regards “normality”, he also enjoyed the theatre and films that met the standards of his moral code.On June 30, 1925, Frassati experienced a severe headache, back pains and a fever after his boat trip with friends on the River Po. He kept these symptoms to himself because his grandmother had died that day, and he didn’t want to add to his mother’s emotional burden. It wasn’t until July 2 that a doctor had to be summoned because he could not get up. Paralysed by polio, he died on July 4, having given his final instructions to his sister and receiving the Last Rites. As he breathed his last breath in his mother’s arms, he said, “May I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.”

The funeral of Pier Giorgio Frassati. Archive

Thousands of people lined the streets when his funeral cortege passed on its way to the Frassati family mausoleum in Pollone. These were the people who soon began to petition for this young man to become a saint. By 1932, the Church had decided to begin the process of canonisation, and by 1938 there was agreement on all fronts that Pier Giorgio Frassati had met all the appropriate criteria, including a miracle occurring after his death.
Frassati was proclaimed Venerable on 23 October 1987, when Pope John Paul II issued a decree confirming that he had lived a Christian life of “heroic virtue”, a concept required for beatification.  By that time, his remains had been removed from the family vault and placed in the Turin Cathedral. When they were inspected, they were found to be incorrupt.  He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20 May 1990.

A joyous ‘normal’ youngster.
One hundred years after his death and as we approach his canonisation, today’s young people are on record saying that he inspires them because he was just like them; that “saints” aren’t usually as “normal” as Pier Giorgio. Perhaps we read too much into what other saints may have been like: if Gen Z and Gen Alpha had been contemporaries of St Francis, for example, they may have found him inspirational in his normality as well as in his extraordinariness. So perhaps we need to look more deeply into Pier Giorgio’s extraordinariness—and rest assured, he was indeed extraordinary. So extraordinary that two Popes have noted what an inspiration he is for young people.

Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis will be canonised together in St Peter’s Square, Rome, on 7 September 2025. Archive

The late Pope Francis placed him among the twelve exemplary saints for all young people in his apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit, including him among those “who devoted their lives to Christ… precious reflections of the young Christ.” He added “their radiant witness encourages us and awakens us from our lethargy” (CV 49). Pope Francis also echoed St John Paul II when he said that Frassati “was a young man filled with a joy that swept everything along with it, a joy that overcame many difficulties in his life (CV 60).
In a decree on Nov. 25, 2024 Pope Francis recognized the miraculous healing of a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — who was ordained a priest in June 2023.  He will be canonised with Carlo Acutis on 7 September 2025.

 Marian Pallister