A Dutch woman's solo pilgrimage on foot from Maastricht to Rome - Vatican News
Emily Johnson ·
· News about the Church
Christel Grimbergen, a psychiatrist from Amsterdam, completed a 2,800-kilometre pilgrimage on foot from Maastricht to Rome in three months and three weeks, reaching the tomb of Saint Peter. She set out partly in memory of her late friend Marieke and partly to experience silence, solitude, and trust in God. Along the way she faced thunderstorms and moments of doubt, but also encountered people who helped her and prayed with her. She says the most beautiful thing about a pilgrimage is gaining faith in humanity. She mentions Jerusalem as a possible next destination, though the war there has put that plan on hold.