On March 1, the city of Barcelona, a historic gateway for pilgrims traveling through the Mediterranean, will launch an extraordinary journey. The Bel Espoir (“Beautiful Hope”), a school-ship, will set sail with 200 young people from different faiths and cultures on an eight-month voyage across the Mediterranean, COPE informs. This initiative, called MED25, is promoted by the Archdioceses of Barcelona and Marseille to “cultivate encounters to break down divisions,” as Pope Francis said in Marseille in 2023.
Since the Middle Ages, Barcelona has been a key port for pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land. St. Ignatius of Loyola himself departed from here on his spiritual quest before reaching Jerusalem. Centuries later, the city continues this tradition of openness and hospitality, now through a new generation seeking to spread hope in a divided world.
Navigating for dialogue
Divided into eight teams of 25, the participants will each spend two weeks aboard the Bel Espoir, under the guidance of the French association Amis du Jeudi-Dimanche (AJD). At every stop, they will take part in seminars on key Mediterranean issues, including intercultural dialogue, the environment, migration, and economic challenges.
The first leg of the journey will take them from Barcelona to Tetouan (Morocco). From there, the ship will dock in 30 ports, including Palermo, Naples, Heraklion, Istanbul, and Beirut, fostering exchange and fraternity along the way.
At the end of each voyage segment, participants will disembark to reflect on their experiences and share what they have learned. This unique structure ensures that each young traveler gains a perspective that complements the experiences of others.
A mission of unity for the Jubilee 2025
This journey is not just an adventure at sea — it is a symbol of hope within the Jubilee Year 2025, whose theme is Pilgrims of Hope. The Jubilee, a tradition dating back to the Hebrew Bible and revived in Christianity, is a time of spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and pilgrimage. It calls believers to embrace mercy, bridge divisions, and walk together in faith.
Pope Francis has emphasized that this Jubilee should be a moment to rekindle hope in a fractured world, encouraging acts of charity and encounters that heal divisions. The young people aboard the Bel Espoir will embody this mission, becoming ambassadors of dialogue and peace as they sail across the waters that have, for centuries, connected diverse peoples and traditions.
Barcelona, with its rich history of faith and connection to the wider world, remains a beacon for those seeking to cross borders and build bridges. In a time of division, this ship reminds us that the Mediterranean does not separate — it unites.
