On April 11-17, 2023, the Province of Our Lady of Montserrat in Spain conducted a pilgrimage to Italy, in celebration of the Franciscan Centenary. Fourteen friars and the Minister Provincial of Spain, Friar Juan Antonio ADÁNEZ SILVÁN, took part in this visit to places that were dear to St. Francis.

The friars flew from Madrid to Rome. From the Eternal City they traveled to Assisi, passing through Monteluco (Spoleto) until they arrived at the Franciscanum Friary in Assisi, where they were provided lodgings and a meeting place.
They went on two excursions. One was to the Rieti Valley where they visited Fontecolombo, La Foresta and Greccio. The other was to Mount La Verna. They then spent two days in and around the city of Assisi. They visited the St. Francis and St. Clare Basilicas, the San Rufino Cathedral and other Franciscan sites, including the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which was once a cathedral, and the bishop’s palace where they had an opportunity to see the excavations at the so-called “Door of Conversion.” Then they went to the outskirts of the city, to the Carceri, San Damiano, Rivotorto and Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Infinite thanks to the Guardian of the Franciscanum, Friar Jerzy NOREL, and to the fraternity for the welcome they gave the friars and for the fraternal love, assistance and care they showed Friar Fulgencio IBÁÑEZ IBÁÑEZ, who broke his kneecap the day same day he arrived in Assisi. He has already been operated on in Granollers, Spain, and the result is good.
Thanks also to the Custos of the Sacred Convent, Friar Marco MORONI, for his welcome and the visit to the most secret corners of the Sacred Convent, and to Friar Carlo BOTTERO for his dedication and effort in showing the friars some documents dating to the very beginning of the Order, which the library of the Sacred Convent preserves.
After Assisi, the friars went to Rome. They stayed at the Seraphicum College where they shared meals and enjoyed some little free time with the fraternity. They visited the Basilicas that commemorate the presence of Francis, namely, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where they visited the Penitenzieria; the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls; and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which stands adjacent to the palace where Pope Honorius III confirmed the Rule with his Bull “Solet annuere”.
The friars also had time to visit the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles where they were welcomed by the community of the General Curia and provided dinner.
A big thank you to the organizer of the pilgrimage and to all the friars and fraternities that the pilgrims met along the way, who made their stay in Italy a happy one.
A big thank you to the organizer of the pilgrimage and to all the friars and fraternities the pilgrims met along the way, who made their stay in Italy a happy one. A big thank you to the organizer of the pilgrimage and to all the friars and fraternities the pilgrims met along the way, who made their stay in Italy a happy one.

Friar Valentin REDONDO FUENTES