(Vatican Radio) More than 100 young people from around the world gathered in the crypt
Saint Peter’s basilica for Mass Saturday morning to begin a pilgrimage to the 7 major
basilicas of Rome.
Those taking part in the pilgrimage went on foot from Saint
Peter’s to Saint Pauls Outside the Walls, Saint Sebastian’s, Saint John Lateran, Santa
Croce and Gerusalemme, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, and finally concluded with
a visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Organizing the event is the Centro
San Lorenzo, an international youth centre founded by Blessed John Paul II in the
early 1980s as a place for welcoming young pilgrims to Rome.
Welcoming coordinator
for the youth centre Cecile Delattre spoke with Vatican Radio about the purpose of
this pilgrimage.
“The main grace that people can receive in this pilgrimage,”
she said, comes from the opportunity to walk “in the steps of the saints.”
The
pilgrimage offers the opportunity to visit the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul,
she continued, as “these are the columns of the Church: and we are walking in their
steps to rediscover our own faith.”
6th year seminarian for the
Venerable English College and organizer for the pilgrimage Marc Homsey spoke about
what young people can receive from this pilgrimage.
“You can have a powerful
experience at each of the churches,” he explained, especially at the first two basilicas
visited, knowing that “Saint Peter is buried at Saint Peter’s basilica, the first
pope who knew Jesus personally, and Saint Paul at the next church who is one of our
great apostles.”
The purpose of such a pilgrimage, the organizers told Vatican
Radio, is to help young people find community as they journey through the city in
the footsteps of the saints.