The traditional Chartres pilgrimage, one of the most significant gatherings of Catholicism in France, will open its registrations this Sunday for its 44th edition, which will take place from May 23 to 25, on the solemnity of Pentecost.
Thousands of faithful, mostly young people, participate each year in this march that connects Paris with Chartres Cathedral, on a route marked by prayer, fraternity, and public witness of faith.
The Covadonga Chapter, consolidated Spanish presence
Among the international groups participating in this multitudinous gathering stands out the Capítulo Nuestra Señora de Covadonga, which will return to pilgrimage to Chartres for the eighth consecutive year, thus consolidating its presence within this ecclesial event.
This group, which brings together Spanish faithful, will also open its registrations this Palm Sunday. From the organization, they warn that, due to the logistical demands of the pilgrimage, the quotas are limited, so they encourage prompt registration.
A consolidated and growing gathering
Far from some reductive labels, the pilgrimage has consolidated itself as one of the largest Catholic gatherings in Europe. It brings together people of different ages, origins, and social realities, united by the same purpose: to live the faith intensely and deepen the search for meaning.
The march, demanding from a physical point of view, combines effort with spiritual life, offering participants an integral experience that combines liturgy, formation, and fellowship.
The growing number of registrants in recent years confirms the dynamism of this initiative, which continues to attract new pilgrims in each edition.
A new route to facilitate participation
In the face of the increase in demand and the logistical limitations of the main route, the organization—Notre-Dame de Chrétienté—has announced the creation of an alternative itinerary under the name of “ruta de Jerusalén”.
This new route, approximately 70 kilometers, offers a more accessible modality without renouncing the essential elements of the pilgrimage: prayer, community life, and the spirit of sacrifice. The initiative will allow more faithful to fully participate in these days of grace.
An edition marked by the mission
The theme chosen for this year, the Mission, is framed in the call of Pope Leo XIV to enter a “new missionary era”. In this context, the pilgrimage seeks to form Christians rooted in the faith and willing to give witness in their daily lives.
The identity of the gathering also maintains its link with traditional liturgy, celebrated in communion with the Church, as one of the characteristic features that have defined this pilgrimage for more than four decades.
Outstanding presence and ecclesial context
The 2026 edition will feature the presence of Cardinal Raymond Burke, who will preside over the closing Mass in Chartres Cathedral on Monday, May 25.