Italian youths on a weeklong walking pilgrimage throughout their dioceses

Aug 17, 2018

By Robin Gomes
More than 30,000 young people of some 200 Italian dioceses set out in groups Friday morning, Aug 3, on a weeklong walking pilgrimage in the territories of their respective dioceses, an experience that concluded in a mega rally in Rome on Aug 11-12 with meetings with Pope Francis.

The National Service for Youth Ministry of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) organised the initiative in view of the Synod of Bishops on young people scheduled for October in the Vatican.

Fr Michele Falabretti, who heads the Youth Ministry office, explained that they wanted to add a special experience to their meeting with the Pope, hence the initiative called, “Per Mille Strade” (Through a thousand roads), which is a pilgrimage involving young people and those accompanying them and “Siamo Qui” (We Are Here).

Pilgrimage through the world
To be able to make the most of the walking pilgrimage, each participant was provided with a pilgrim’s kit containing both practical and spiritual items. This included a pilgrim’s shoulder bag with items such as a headlamp for use at night, a hat, a portable water bag, a diary, a Gospel, a cross, a commentary booklet on the encounter between Jesus and the disciples, a small canvas with the image of the holy shroud, a map and an identification badge.

The young pilgrims were also furnished with a log to post their experiences as they pass through the various stages of their journey.

Fr Falabretti said the purpose of the pilgrimage was to help young people step out of the beaten path, slow down and keep their eyes open to the testimonies of life and faith that they come across and to know about the stories of today’s man and his difficulties and hopes. This journey was to make the children think and feel as part of the Church, he said.

On Sunday, Aug 12, they attended a Mass in St Peter’s Square, where the Pope handed them a missionary mandate and blessed the Crucifix of St Damien and Our Lady of Loreto which they will carry to the World Youth Day in Panama, next year. -- Vatican News