Representatives of more than twenty European Camino de Santiago associations, researchers, tourism authorities and pilgrims met together at St Paul’s Missionary College in Rabat on May 25th as part of the General Assembly of the Camino Europa Compostela (CEC) network.
The event was organised by the Maltese association XirCammini under the motto “It’s in the journey” and formed part of a week-long programme of activities from 19 to 26 May.
The day opened with a keynote address by Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), who presented Malta’s national strategy for faith-based tourism. He highlighted current initiatives to support infrastructure, fund events, and run international outreach campaigns. Malta, he said, represents a “living spiritual fabric” that resonates with pilgrims of diverse origins and motivations.
James Portelli, president of XirCammini, then delivered a welcoming address, emphasising the role of faith tourism in Malta as a way to rediscover the territory through the eyes of the pilgrim.
The first academic keynote came from historian Dr. Dane Munro, whose lecture Pilgrimages Transcending Time: A Millennial Perspective examined pilgrimage as a human phenomenon dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic. Munro proposed a typology of pilgrimage as either “route-based” or “site-based”, both aimed at addressing fundamental human needs such as healing, meaning-making, ritual, and a connection with the transcendent.
The team from Pilgrimaps, a collaborative publication dedicated to global pilgrimage routes, presented an innovative initiative to map and promote historical paths and strengthen inter-associative cooperation.
Irish pilgrim Breandann Ó Scannail offered a personal account of his six-month walk from Clifden, Ireland, to Santiago—undertaken without GPS or planning, guided only by the sun and the generosity of those he met. “The Camino,” he said, “is a space for discovering the world—and yourself.”
Dr. Stanley Farrugia Randon, speaking on behalf of Din l-Art Ħelwa, presented the restoration project of San Mikiel ta’ San Ċir, a rural Maltese chapel with Arab and Byzantine architectural roots. The church, which connects Malta’s spiritual heritage to medieval pilgrimage routes, is set to be restored under the organisation’s supervision.
The afternoon opened with a roundtable discussion moderated by Sue Sergeant (Confraternity of Saint James, UK) on the Camino as a religious, spiritual or humanist experience. Panelists discussed how these perspectives coexist. One common idea emerged: the Camino is not defined by a doctrine or goal but by a personal process of reflection.
“The Camino,” one speaker said, “reveals something about you. It’s not about what you believe, but how you live it.”
Later, the member associations of the Camino Europa Compostela network gave short presentations highlighting their work across more than 20 countries—from Romania to the Netherlands, Finland to Andalusia. The CEC currently recognises 286 official Camino routes, totalling 83,000 kilometres across 28 European countries.
A Symbolic Conclusion in the Co-Cathedral
That evening, the day concluded with an Ecumenical Pilgrim Service at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Open to all, the service gathered delegates and pilgrims under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, reflecting the spirit of the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year. The liturgy was led by Monsignor Paul Vella, Rector of the Co-Cathedral, together with Monsignor Emmanuel Agius, Chair of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation.
The ceremony included
- A symbolic offering of Camino shells from Santiago, blessed in the Compostelan cathedral
- Reflections by pilgrims Christine Fenech, Fr. Stephen Shields, and Johnnie Walker Santiago
- A message from the Bishop of Compostela, Mons. Francisco José Pietro, read aloud to the assembly, affirming the connection between the Camino routes across Europe and the Jacobean tradition.
Camino Europa Compostela: a network strengthening the Jacobean movement
Camino Europa Compostela is a collaborative European initiative officially confirmed at the XIII International Congress of Jacobean Associations, held in Ourense in April 2023. It stems from the Europa Compostela Declaration, originally launched during the Jacobean Holy Year 2021–2022 in Arras. The initiative brings together the founding members of the European Jacobean Union with the goal of strengthening and coordinating the Jacobean movement across Europe, promoting knowledge, cooperation among associations, and the active conservation of historical routes.
Prior to the conference, the European Premier of the fil The Way – My Way was screened in Valletta.
An exhibition It’s in the Journey was also held to accompany the conference.
This article was provided by XirCammini
