Archbishop of Santiago Defends the Camino’s Spiritual Soul Ahead of Holy Year 2027

Speaking during the summer courses organized by CEU San Pablo University, the archbishop participated in the program “Inhabiting the Roads: Hospitality on the Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de Compostela,” where he reflected on the enduring importance of hospitality, faith, and human encounter along the historic Jacobean route.

At the heart of his remarks was the conviction that hospitality is far more than a practical service offered to travelers. According to Monsignor Prieto, welcoming pilgrims is a form of Christian charity deeply rooted in the origins of the Camino and remains essential to its identity today.

“The pilgrim is not simply a traveler,” the archbishop said. “He is someone who embarks on an external and internal journey towards God.” He described the Camino de Santiago as an experience that unites humanity and faith, where encounters with fellow pilgrims become opportunities to encounter Christ.

A Pilgrimage Beyond Tourism

Monsignor Prieto cautioned against viewing the Camino exclusively through the lens of tourism and economic activity. While acknowledging the route’s popularity and international appeal, he stressed that its essence cannot be measured in commercial terms.

“The pilgrim is not a customer,” he said. “The soul of the Camino cannot be absorbed by a commercial logic. If the Camino is reduced to a product, hospitality loses its true value.”

His comments highlighted a growing concern that the spiritual foundations of the pilgrimage could be overshadowed by consumer-driven approaches. For the archbishop, the enduring strength of the Camino lies not in its infrastructure or services, but in the traditions of generosity and welcome that have sustained it across centuries.

He argued that the Jacobean tradition survives because it operates according to a different logic—one rooted in gift and gratuity rather than transaction.

“The pilgrim receives without being able to offer anything in return,” he explained. “This gratuitousness points to the very heart of God.”

Hospitality as an Encounter With God

Expanding on the religious significance of hospitality, Monsignor Prieto described it as a lived expression of the Gospel and an essential dimension of the pilgrimage experience.

“When the Church speaks of the Camino, it speaks of an experience in which hospitality can become a true place of encounter with God,” he said. “It is a concrete experience of the Gospel lived.”

The archbishop emphasized that the Camino’s spiritual value is inseparable from the way pilgrims are received along the route. Hospitality, in this understanding, becomes more than assistance; it is a witness to faith and a visible sign of Christian community.

His remarks placed welcoming pilgrims at the center of the Church’s mission, particularly as preparations continue for the next Holy Year of St. James in 2027, an event expected to draw large numbers of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

Looking Toward Holy Year 2027

With the Jubilee year approaching, Monsignor Prieto said the Church faces an important challenge: determining how it wishes to welcome pilgrims and what image of the Church it seeks to present to the world.

“The challenge lies in discerning how we want to welcome and what face of the Church we want to show,” he said.

For him, hospitality represents a tangible expression of Christian hope. Every act of welcome communicates a message that pilgrims are not alone and that God’s grace remains accessible to all who seek it.

“Whoever is welcomed discovers that they are never alone and that there is always a door open to the grace of God,” he noted.

The archbishop suggested that this understanding of hospitality will be particularly important during the Holy Year, when the Camino is likely to become a focal point for spiritual renewal and pilgrimage.

Preserving the Christian Identity of the Camino

Throughout his address, Monsignor Prieto repeatedly returned to the theme of spiritual identity. He argued that the Camino’s historical relevance and enduring attraction stem primarily from its religious meaning.

“If the Camino loses its Christian soul, it will end up becoming a mere route, a fragmented itinerary that no longer knows where it begins or ends,” he warned.

According to the archbishop, pilgrimage is defined by its destination and purpose. While Santiago de Compostela remains the physical goal, he stressed that the journey ultimately points toward a deeper spiritual reality.

“There is a path because there is a goal, and that goal transcends even the arrival in Santiago,” he said.

Hospitality at the Heart of Christian Faith

Drawing on biblical tradition, Monsignor Prieto described hospitality as one of the clearest expressions of authentic Christian faith. He noted that the themes of journey, pilgrimage, and welcoming the stranger are woven throughout salvation history.

“Hospitality is not merely an enhanced courtesy; it belongs to the very heart of the Christian tradition,” he said.

The archbishop emphasized that genuine hospitality is often expressed through simple and practical acts of care rather than grand gestures. Offering water, shelter, attentive listening, and care for both visible and invisible wounds are all manifestations of a charity inspired by the Gospel.

“It is a charity that springs directly from the Gospel and always points back to Christ,” he concluded.

As the Camino de Santiago continues to attract pilgrims from around the world, Monsignor Prieto’s message underscores a central challenge for the future: preserving the route’s spiritual purpose and culture of hospitality while ensuring that its centuries-old Christian identity remains at the heart of the pilgrimage experience.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Prensa