From June 29 to September 21, 2025, a 1,306-kilometer pilgrimage from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Padua retraces the footsteps of the Saint, blending faith, heritage, and community.
Eight centuries after Saint Anthony’s journey through France, a new initiative seeks to revive his path and spirit. “En Route with Saint Anthony” is a jubilee pilgrimage that will, in 2025, guide walkers from Brive-la-Gaillarde, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, all the way to the Basilica of the Saint in Padua. Spanning 1,306 kilometers and 60 stages, the route weaves together towns, landscapes, and people, all bound by the living legacy of a man who deeply shaped Franciscan history and European spirituality.
The pilgrimage begins on June 29, 2025, and concludes on September 21. Each day marks a new leg of the journey, traveled by rotating groups in a symbolic relay. Making this path even more meaningful is the presence of a relic of the Saint, which will be carried along the route and received by parishes, monasteries, and local faith communities.
Born from the “Antonio800” project, the journey is organized by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Italian Province of Saint Anthony of Padua, and forms part of the Giugno Antoniano (June Celebrations for Saint Anthony). It’s not a traditional pilgrimage but rather a collective experience—a humble and grassroots journey, as Friar Roberto Brandinelli describes it—rooted in Franciscan values of hospitality, shared prayer, and deep listening.
With strong international ties, the project involves Franciscan communities in Italy, France, and Belgium, and has been officially recognized as part of the 2025 Jubilee. As Monsignor Rino Fisichella has noted, it is “a deeply valuable initiative that invites young people to become pilgrims of hope.”
The pilgrimage is open to everyone—no registration required. Anyone can join at the starting point of a stage or take part in the events organized along the way. The official website, www.antonio800.org, offers practical information about the itinerary, elevation profiles, and lodging. The journey will also be documented daily in a video diary broadcast by local Italian channels and the French Catholic network KTO.
This is a rare opportunity to walk in the spirit of Saint Anthony, rediscovering the meaning of slowness, encounter, and faith lived through the simplicity of the road.
