From Canterbury to Rome: Pilgrims rediscover ancient Francigena Way

Published: 2004-08-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Most of the ancient roads to Rome have become busy thoroughfares or superhighways swarming with speeding Fiats and Alfa Romeos. But one route still remains largely unspoiled by today's traffic, instead dotted by an occasional cow or a moped. This 2,000-year-old road, known as the Francigena Way, was once a crucial trading corridor and later a popular pilgrim's path starting from England's North Sea and leading to the eternal city of Rome. Julius Caesar first established the Francigena's network of roads in 58 B.C. "It was the backbone of Western Europe, linking the North with Rome," said Father Bernard Ardura, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Later, the Francigena Way provided Europe's Christian pilgrims with the fastest and safest route to reach the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul in Rome. Even Sigeric, the 10th-century archbishop of Canterbury, England, trekked the 1,100-miles to receive his pallium from Pope John XV. But in the mid-17th century this "way of the Franks" died out. By the end of the 18th century, no one but Napoleon's troops were trudging its byways until some modern-day pilgrims rediscovered the Francigena Way's historical, artistic and religious riches and started working for its revival.

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