Vatican City, 29 July, 2024 / 7:15 pm (ACI Africa).
More than 50,000 pilgrims representing 88 dioceses across 20 European countries have descended upon Rome this week to participate in the 13th International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers 2024 taking place from July 29 to Aug. 2.
Coetus Internationalis Ministrantium (CIM), an international association for altar boys and girls, has been organizing these special pilgrimages to Rome since 1961. This year’s motto “With You” is based on words from Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Several groups of altar servers could be seen on Monday in different basilicas in Rome — including the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and the Church of the Gesù — preparing and celebrating liturgies as part of their pilgrimage in the Eternal CIty.
“The pilgrimage to Rome enables us to experience the diversity and unity of our global community of altar servers,” CIM president Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ, of Luxembourg said at a press conference on Monday.
“It is all the more significant to see that we all come from different countries, speak different languages, and pray in different languages but we all have one service and one responsibility. This unites the altar servers, so that each of them is a peacemaker,” he added.