SIDE EVENTS

PILGRIMAGE FORUM in the Pilgrimage Centre (in Hungarian)

On our upcoming imaginary journey, our guide will be Emese Janiga, who has walked this path with Saint Francis numerous times. For nearly 20 years, she has been supporting pilgrims with her expert advice, and since 2019, through the Hungarian edition of the official guidebook.Could life really be this simple? Could starting a pilgrimage be just as straightforward? According to Saint Francis of Assisi, the answer is yes!

Undoubtedly, the most well-known and, in modern terms, most popular saint of all time is Saint Francis, born in Assisi. This evening, we follow in his footsteps, discovering the pilgrimage route that strings together the key locations of his life like a necklace of pearls.The event is particularly timely as we celebrate a significant milestone: this year marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis.We invite you on a mental journey to the green heart of Italy. A 365-kilometer pilgrimage route winds through the mountains and valleys of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. Its uniqueness lies in the almost tangible presence of Saint Francis: where he lived and wandered, prayed among rugged rocks, preached in vast squares, healed the sick, and taught; where the holy stigmata of Christ appeared on his body, where he turned water into wine, and where, at the end of his earthly life, Sister Death took him by the hand.

The presentation will cover the pilgrimage itself (including practical advice and spiritual insights), the guidebook titled Saint Francis Was Here (published in Hungarian), and a brief overview of other pilgrimage routes in Italy.Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask our guest questions and enjoy an engaging conversation.