Over 100 pilgrims from 10 countries join a three-day Rome-to-Subiaco pilgrimage rooted in tradition, faith, and the Latin Mass.
Newsroom (01/05/2026 Gaudium Press) More than one hundred pilgrims from ten countries gathered in Italy for the inaugural edition of the Our Lady of Christendom Italy (NSC Italy) pilgrimage, a three-day journey blending historical routes, traditional liturgy, and spiritual renewal. The event, held from April 25 to 27, traced a path from Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to Subiaco, widely regarded as the cradle of Western monasticism.
The pilgrimage brought together laypeople, priests, and seminarians from across Europe and the Americas, including participants from France, Spain, Argentina, Ireland, England, Hungary, Mexico, the United States, Portugal, and Italy. Central to the experience was the celebration of Mass according to the Usus Antiquior of the Roman rite, reflecting a growing interest among young Catholics in traditional forms of worship.
The initiative was spearheaded by 25-year-old Italian economics student Giacomo Mollo, inspired by a similar Spanish pilgrimage linking Oviedo to Covadonga. Mollo, who began attending the Traditional Latin Mass two years ago, described the experience as transformative, rekindling his faith and leading him to receive Confirmation. Together with Nicolò Toppi and a network of young volunteers and clergy, he sought to bring this model of evangelization to Italy, particularly Rome.
A Journey Rooted in Symbolism
The route was carefully aligned with both historical landmarks and the liturgical calendar. Pilgrims departed on April 25, the feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, from Santa Maria Maggiore, proceeding through Saint John Lateran and the Quo Vadis church before walking along the ancient Appian Way toward Castel Gandolfo.
On the second day, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, participants reached the sanctuary in Genazzano—closely associated with Pope Leo XIV—and attended Mass at Colonna Castle, the birthplace of Pope Martin V.
The pilgrimage culminated in Subiaco, where pilgrims celebrated Mass in the Church of Saint Scholastica and visited the grotto of Saint Benedict of Nursia. It was here that Benedict began the monastic tradition that would profoundly shape European spiritual and cultural life.
Mollo highlighted the unity and spiritual depth of the journey, noting the “penitential nature of the journey” and the “universality of the Church” reflected in the international group. He described a shared sense of “gratitude, beauty, and faith” fostered through communal worship and travel.
Faith in a Modern Context
At the Sacro Speco, the pilgrimage chaplain delivered a sermon drawing parallels between the collapse of the late Roman world and contemporary society. He reflected on Saint Benedict’s retreat into solitude at age seventeen, framing it not as withdrawal but as a foundation for renewal that would ultimately influence the course of Europe.
The chaplain argued that modern society faces what he described as the “idols of modernity,” including limitless progress and the pursuit of well-being detached from spiritual grounding. He urged pilgrims to return home guided by the Cross of Saint Benedict and the motto “Ora et labora” (“pray and work”), encouraging them to “do good and combat evil” while invoking “Adveniat regnum thyum.”
At the conclusion of the pilgrimage, organizers announced a second edition scheduled for April 24–26, 2027.
Part of a Growing International Movement
Organizers emphasized that participants, while regular attendees of the Traditional Latin Mass, do not belong to a single movement or religious community. Instead, the pilgrimage aims to foster personal spiritual growth through prayer, sacramental life, and shared experience in a secularized context.
The timing of the event was strategically chosen to fit within an established international calendar of traditional pilgrimages. While May and June are dedicated to Chartres, July to Covadonga, August to Luján, and September to Fatima, NSC Italy now occupies a distinct place in April, contributing to a year-round circuit of Catholic pilgrimage across continents.
Reflecting on the experience, Mollo described it simply as “absolutely beautiful,” citing both the scenic landscapes and the deep spiritual significance encountered along the route.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatholica
Related Images:
