The international pilgrimage “Our Lady of Christendom” is being held these days in Italy with an itinerary that connects Rome with Subiaco, combining moments of intense spiritual life with a journey marked by the historical tradition of the Church. The initiative, which began on April 25, brings together the faithful in a path of prayer, sacrifice, and community.
From Rome to the Castelli Romani: the beginning of the journey
According to the blog Messa in Latino, before the official start, the participants experienced a moment of intense spiritual preparation in the church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, where an Eucharistic adoration took place marked by silence and recollection. This act anticipated the tone of the pilgrimage, centered from the first moment on the interior dimension of faith.
The march began on Saturday, April 25, with the celebration of Holy Mass in the basilica of Saint Mary Major. From this Marian temple, linked to the tradition of the miraculous snowfall in the times of Pope Liberius, the pilgrims departed after receiving the blessing.
The initial route took them along the Via Merulana, the ancient Via Papalis, until reaching the Via Appia, one of the most emblematic roads of the early Christian world. Along this stretch, the participants followed an itinerary loaded with historical and spiritual significance, in continuity with the tradition of the first centuries.
As the hours passed, the group advanced toward Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Popes, crossing the natural surroundings of the Castelli Romani and concluding the day in Nemi, where the base camp was established.
Toward Genazzano and Holy Mass in Colonna
At dawn on Sunday, April 26, the pilgrimage resumed through the forests of Monte Cavo toward Valmontone. According to reports, recent rains had made some sections of the path difficult, invaded by vegetation, but the pilgrims were able to continue thanks to the work of the organizers.
The destination for the day was the sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, which they reached in the afternoon, coinciding with the feast of this Marian devotion. Upon arrival, they were welcomed by the local inhabitants with the ringing of bells and, already in the sanctuary, they gathered in prayer before the image of the Virgin, venerated since the 15th century and associated with a tradition of miraculous origin.
The day concluded with the celebration of a solemn Mass in Colonna Castle, thus ending the second day of the itinerary.
Final stage in Subiaco
The pilgrimage continues this Monday, April 27, with its final stage toward Subiaco, the endpoint of this journey, where the Sacro Speco is located, the place where Saint Benedict of Nursia lived as a hermit and which centuries later became the epicenter of Western monasticism.
Subiaco holds a central place in the monastic and Christian history of Europe, and its inclusion in the itinerary has been highlighted by the promoters as an element of cohesion between faith and the monastic tradition that has nourished the spiritual life of the continent for centuries.