From May 19 to 26, Malta is hosting the General Assembly of Camino Europa Compostela (CEC), marking the first time the pan-European pilgrimage organization has convened outside Santiago de Compostela. The event brings together 24 associations from 16 countries under the theme “It’s in the Journey,” showing a renewed focus on pilgrimage as a shared cultural and spiritual practice.
The week-long program includes a film premiere, an international conference, an ecumenical service, and an art exhibition, all aimed at strengthening European collaboration around pilgrimage routes — particularly the Camino Maltés, which connects Malta to Santiago via Sicily and Sardinia.
The Assembly is organized by XirCammini, a Maltese non-profit dedicated to historical and spiritual walking routes. Its president, James Portelli, emphasized that the revival of pilgrimage is “an evolving personal journey — one that transcends institutions and unfolds both individually and in communion with others.”
On May 25, around 150 delegates will gather at St. Paul’s Missionary College in Rabat for the conference portion of the Assembly. Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Ian Borg will open the event, which features academic presentations, digital innovation showcases, and panel discussions around a central question: whether the Camino is best understood as a religious, spiritual, or humanist experience.
Later that day, an ecumenical prayer service will be held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Open to the public, the gathering will include the bishop of Compostela and feature symbols of pilgrimage such as the Camino shell and a blessed candle sent from Santiago. The liturgy’s theme, Pilgrims of Hope, aligns with that of the 2025 Jubilee.
Other highlights include the Maltese premiere of The Way, My Way — a Camino-themed film by Australian director William Bennett — on May 24, and a weeklong art exhibition at the Malta Postal Museum and Arts Hub, showcasing works by artists who have walked the Camino.
Founded in 2023, Camino Europa Compostela aims to unify and support European associations that promote the Camino de Santiago. Its goals include advocacy at the EU level, the promotion of core pilgrimage values like solidarity and hospitality, and increased cooperation across both secular and faith-based institutions.
The choice of Malta as host underscores the archipelago’s historic role as a crossroads of cultures and spiritual traditions in the Mediterranean. Organizers say the Assembly affirms Malta’s growing importance in Europe’s network of sacred paths — and its potential as a hub for sustainable, faith-based tourism.
For more details and updates, visit caminoeuropacompostela.eu.
