Where would you go?
I would take the Via Francigena to Rome. This is an ancient land route for pilgrims from Canterbury – now in the Southwark diocese where I minister – to Rome. On various holidays abroad I’ve seen pilgrims walking this route and also the signposts for it. Having completed various other shorter walking pilgrimages, such as the Camino de Santiago and the Paris to Chartres march, this would be the ultimate and longest experience.
I’d probably start off at Southwark, as the Chaucer pilgrims once did, and then go on like them to Canterbury before heading down to Dover for a crossing to the continent. This route has been travelled by so many famous Englishmen, from Benet Biscop to Hilaire Belloc. It is joined at various moments by tributary routes from other European countries, but it is uniquely relevant for us as it starts officially in England. It’s a golden thread that connects our land to the Eternal City, the shrines of the Apostles.
