National Walking Pilgrimage of Hope launched

Image: ICN/JS

The 2025 National Jubilee Walking Pilgrimage of Hope has opened for day pilgrim registration.

The Pilgrimage of Hope is a national walking pilgrimage for England & Wales with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is an initiative of the Hearts in Search of God project.

The Ways start at the Catholic cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and St George's Catholic Cathedral, Southwark, London and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross. The routes use established hiking routes and are off road as much as possible. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, with up to 20 day pilgrims joining for day stages. There are potential feeder routes to the four main Ways from all the other Catholic cathedrals of England & Wales.

It is now possible for pilgrims to register for day stages. Parishes enroute can also be involved and support the Pilgrimage by:

- Praying for the safety of pilgrims and for the success of the Pilgrimage of Hope.
- Opening the church and parish hall.
- Providing simple hospitality for the day and perpetual pilgrims, such as tea & coffee.
- Helping to transport the four to six perpetual pilgrims' rucksacks from the start to the end of the day's walk by car.
- Providing simple overnight accommodation for the four to six perpetual pilgrims.The 2025 Jubilee has the motto 'pilgrims of hope' and the logo (see below) shows people coming from the four corners of the earth in solidarity.

Pope Francis has written: "Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full."

The Hearts in Search of God project lead, Phil McCarthy said: "We live in times when despair would be easy. The Pilgrimage of Hope will be a way for Catholics and other Christians to witness to their faith and hope in the crucified and risen Christ across England & Wales. It will be an opportunity to experience walking a sustainable pilgrimage on foot as pilgrims of hope."

Phil McCarthy is a retired GP and former CEO of Caritas Social Action Network. In 2008 he walked from Canterbury to Rome and in 2015 on from Rome to Istanbul. He has written books about both pilgrimages.

LINKS

For more information visit: Pilgrimage Walk | The Pilgrimage of Hope