Two weeks on foot to slow down, reflect and seek fresh direction, guided by Franciscan simplicity and Ignatian practice.
Dear Pilgrims,
Join a mindful and spiritual pilgrimage along the Franciscan Way from Assisi to Rome from 1 to 15 November 2025: two weeks on foot in a small group, with daily spiritual prompts and space for silence, sharing and personal reflection.
In the Holy Year we follow in the footsteps of St Francis as we make our way to the Eternal City.
The journey blends physical challenge, cultural discovery and spiritual depth, inviting you to find fresh orientation and new insights for your life’s path.
This pilgrimage is open to people of all backgrounds, it’s ideal for anyone who wants to travel more intentionally and to take time for inner clarity.
Why I’m offering this journey
For the past nine months I’ve been running one-day pilgrimage hikes for young people around Berlin and beyond. The Berlin Pilgrims group has grown into a community of hundreds of people from many countries.
These outings have become more than day trips: they are occasions for deep encounters with others, with nature and with oneself.
Walking makes it easier to step out of the weekly pressure and to find calm and depth.
Still, some questions need longer time and space than a day can give. That is why I’m offering this longer pilgrimage with spiritual guidance to create the conditions for a sustained inner conversation on the road.
What you can expect
In short: walking, short daily inputs, community and time for yourself. Practically, we walk an average of 20–35 km per day, covering around 250 km in 10 stages along the Via di Francesco through Umbria and Lazio in Italy.
Each day has a spiritual prompt and a guiding question, based on biblical passages and stories from the life of St Francis. There will be times for silence and for group sharing. We include arrival and rest days in Assisi and Rome to settle in and reflect.
The group is small (6–15 pilgrims); the main language will be English, with German support where needed.
How the pilgrimage is structured
The journey follows an inner rhythm inspired by the Ignatian Exercises. We begin with a grounding phase, move into a time of letting go, then into phases of discipleship and community, followed by perseverance and service, and finally a phase of arrival and sending.
This structure gives the pilgrimage rhythm and depth without being rigid. The inputs are practical and approachable rather than academic.
Your guide on the path
I’m Alex, a certified pilgrimage guide from Berlin, Germany. I’ll take care of organisation, lead the daily spiritual inputs and guidance, and help create a safe and supportive group atmosphere.
This is a privately organised pilgrimage, not a commercial tour. I’m happy to answer questions personally and to help you work out whether this pilgrimage is right for you.
Ignatius meets Francis: Two saints shape the character of this pilgrimage
Francis of Assisi (1181–1226): Francis was a merchant’s son who radically changed his life: he renounced wealth, embraced a life of poverty, founded a brotherhood, and sought closeness to God, to people and to creation. He is known for his love of nature, his care for the poor, and a simple, earthy spirituality.
On the pilgrimage we will visit places linked to his life, read short texts by or about him, and let his attitude inform our days, for example through careful attention to nature, simple practices of gratitude, short stories from his life, and impulses toward practical compassion.
Francis helps us treat spirituality as lived practice: simple, concrete and rooted in the world.
Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556): Ignatius was a former soldier who, after a profound inner conversion, developed the Spiritual Exercises: a set of structured practices that help people explore a theme, seek God’s presence and make clearer decisions.
Key elements are short daily periods of silence and reflection, working with images and inner movements, and a clear rhythm of listening, discerning and deciding.
In our pilgrimage the Ignatian elements provide shape and depth: each day has a guiding question, a morning prompt, a short contemplative exercise and an evening reflection. These tools help to order experiences, to make choices consciously, and to support inner growth.
Holy Year or Jubilee 2025
2025 is a Holy Year in the Roman Catholic Church and a special occasion for pilgrims to visit Rome with intention and pass through the Holy Doors. The Jubilee is not only ritual; it carries the deep theme of release and renewal.
Historically and biblically the Jubilee signified the remission of debts and a fresh start, and in Christian tradition it has come to stand for mercy, forgiveness and a new beginning and as an invitation to spiritual healing and liberation.
We will use this powerful symbolism: arriving in Rome becomes an opportunity to reflect on what we can let go of, what might be forgiven, and how to step forward renewed.
Practical notes & registration
- Dates: arrive 1 (or 2) November; return from 13 November at the earliest (recommended departure 15 November).
- Costs: organisation fee €50 (covers planning, bookings and guidance). Accommodation are organised in advance and costs shared fairly; travel to and from Italy is at participants’ own expense. Participation is at your own responsibility (insurance, health and liability).
- Full details and disclaimer are provided in the information broschure. Please read it before registration.
- Please complete and submit the registration form by 24 September 2025.
If this journey calls to you, I warmly invite you to join us. Whether you come seeking clarity, a quieter pace, or simply the company of fellow travellers, this pilgrimage offers time, space and gentle guidance to explore what matters most.
If you’d like to take part, please complete the registration form by 24 September 2025 or get in touch with any questions and we can talk it through.
Buen Camino,
Alex
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