Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Nov 6, 2010 / 09:19 am
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of transformation through the love of God as he visited one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites of Europe. He noted that the Catholic Church is the place where that love can be spread.
The Pontiff was greeted warmly by the Spanish faithful who lined most of the more than six mile route from the airport to the Santiago de Compostela city center. Reaching the city's monumental cathedral, the destination of thousands of pilgrimages every year, he completed the "rite of the pilgrim" himself.
Wearing a traditional black cloak adorned with scallop shell symbol of St. James on one side and the red cross of the Spanish Order of Santiago on the other, he entered through the Holy Door, embraced the statue of St. James and prayed at the apostle's tomb below the altar.
The opening of the door is reserved only for years in which the July 25 feast of St. James, patron and protector of Spain, is celebrated on a Sunday. A Holy Year is declared in such cases and the number of pilgrims to the ever popular site spike. Many travel hundreds of miles on foot to reach St. James’ tomb.