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A Holy year is starting - What will it mean for pilgrims?

alexwalker

Forever Pilgrim
Donating Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2009-2022: CFx6, CP, VdlPx2, Mozarabe, more later.
Tonight at 19.00 CET, pope Frans will open the holy door in St. Peter's church in Rome. It wil be broadcasted live on TV in many countries. I will for sure be watching. This will mark the beginning of a worldwide holy year for the Catholic community. It will end on Jan. 6th 2026.

But what will it mean for us who are planning to walk a camino next year? Will it be overcrowded? Will beds be unavailable? Will it be necessary to book days ahead? I fear a traffic jam at least on the Camino Frances...

I am planning my next Camino in May with my daughter, so I am a bit worried. Any thoughts/Knowledge?

BTW: Merry Christmas to you all!
 
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Merry Christmas @alexwalker!

I think you are an experienced pilgrim and you'll know what to do when and if you're presented with an issue. You know all the options such as taking a cab forward or back, asking at the local bar, staying in towns that others don't, etc. You can teach your daughter the tips, too!

Buen Camino!
 
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Alex, these events occur in Rome. The Holy Door in Santiago will not be opening.

Impact on the Spanish Caminos? Probably minimal
 
Thank you!

He, he, yes, I have a relaxed attitude: There's always a solution. But I am also thinking of firsttimers, also considering this year's panic in May.
 
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Kathor1 said:
The previous Jubilee Years declared by the Pope were the year 2000 and the year 2016.

Did they have much of an impact on the Camino Francés along its 800 kilometres?
Click to expand...
2016 yes most certainly.

2000, not so much -- but 2016 was exceptional from every Cathedral opening its Holy Door.

Also it was more or less halfway between the previous and the following Compostelan Holy Years.
 
alexwalker said:
Thank you!

He, he, yes, I have a relaxed attitude: There's always a solution. But I am also thinking of firsttimers, also considering this year's panic in May.
Click to expand...
Whether a Holy year or not, knowing your daughter’s capabilities, strengths, etc, would help you determine how much you actually need to plan or whether you can wing it. How far can she walk daily? Have you walked with her for a length of time? Doing some walking together before you leave May Be advisable.
 
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My daughter is a tough woman. She can walk nearly as fast and far as me, so no problem there: I sometimes stop for a beer while waiting for her.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I think any big traffice jam wil be on the way to Rome. I'm planning Tui-Santiago in May and hoping it won't be too crowded. I have walked two Holy Years to Santiago since 2008 and I had no problem with albergues or the occasional casa rural. I will go to Rome at some point in 2025 and walk a nominal pilgrimage from the Basilica de Santa Maria in Aracoerli to St Peter's.
Happy Christmas to all with peace and good health in 2025.
 
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The previous Jubilee Years declared by the Pope were the year 2000 and the year 2016. Did they have much of an impact on the Camino Francés along its 800 kilometres?
Click to expand...
In answer to my own question: @Bradypus posted the graph of yearly figures for Compostelas in the aptly named thread about the endless handwringing about the crowds.

The graph shows that the annual figures for Compostelas (one measure for pilgrim fluctuation) for the Roman Holy Year 2000 and the Roman Holy Year 2016 did not show any noticeable increase - just the familiar year on year increase.

See graph in https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...he-crowds-may-be-premature.89957/post-1314579
 
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If anything it could draw people to the Via Francigena who might otherwise be walking to Santiago. But I can't imagine that will make much of a dent to the number of pilgrims in Spain, because many are oblivious to the religious aspect of the walk.
 
Depending on how flexible you are, there’s nearly always a solution to the issues you’ve articulated. I think they are the concerns most of us have, first timers and veterans. I think it’s quite natural to get a little nervous, especially if you’re not going solo. And especially if it’s your daughter, I guess it raises the bar a little.
My approach is to give myself as much flexibility as possible, to have minimal fixed plans and minimal to no expectations. After 5 Camino’s I’ve yet to be disappointed, I’ve enjoyed the company of many pilgrims and the solitude of no pilgrims and I’ve slept in hostels, hotels and chapel floors. One time, in someone’s back yard, on concrete. It was a great night, I watched falling stars till 5 in the morning.
I just refuse to get wound up about it, about anything. I go, if it works I stay, if not, I leave.
Granted not everyone can do it this way. But these days I simply refuse to do it any other way.
 
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Hi Alex,

I agree with Tincatinker: the impact on spanish caminos will be minimal, if any?

However, if you fear masses of pilgrims why not staying in Norway enjoying one of the beautiful Olavsleden routes into Trondheim.
E.g. Gudbrandsdalen way from Oslo or S:t Olavsleden from Sundsval/Sweden.
I enjoyed Sundsval-Trondheim this summer very much, same as 12 years ago on Gudbrandsdalen way.
The landscape is far more spectacular than in Spain, to my opinion, and far, far less pilgrims on the way.

Wherever you‘ll walk
Ultreya
Uwe
 
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