Cardijn Community International (CCI) is organising the Cardijn Pilgrimage in August 2017 to commemorate the 50th death anniversary of Cardinal Cardijn and also the 60th anniversary of IYCW Rome pilgrimage 1957 in which more than 30,000 young people from around the world participated. Pope Pius XII participated in this historic event spearheaded by Cardijn.
It is proposed to have the 50th anniversary Memorial Service for Cardijn on Monday, 14 August 2017 at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken followed by an informal gathering. Current and former members and animators of Cardijn movements from Europe are expected to be present along with the pilgrims. [Inset: Our Lady of Laeken]
Places to be covered by the pilgrimage:
BRUSSELS – LEUVEN – CHARLEROI – HALLE – LILLE – PARIS – LOURDES – AVIGNON – MILAN – BERGAMO – PADUA – VENICE – ASSISI – ROME – VATICAN
The pilgrims will visit among other places, Halle, Cardijn’s birthplace and have a review of life session there. A ‘Cardijn Walk’ in Halle is also planned. 
The pilgrimage will also cover Bergamo, the birthplace of Cardijn’s friend Pope St. John XXIIIwho convened the historic Second Vatican Council in 1962.
Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Mater et magistra on Christianity and social progress was born out of a suggestion by Cardijn to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Rerum novarum
[Inset: Pope St. John XXIII]
Efforts are on to seek an audience with Pope Francis to appeal to the Holy Father to speed up the process of canonization of Joseph Cardinal Cardijn and also to thank him for his initiative in speeding up the process of canonization of Bishop Angelelli of Argentina, the former chaplain of JOC Argentina. We also plan to present to the Pope the need to recognize numerous martyrs of Cardijn movements including José Serapio Palacio of Argentina.
Another highlight of the pilgrimage will be an international symposium on ‘Cardijn 1967-2017: Cry of the Poor and Cry of the Earth’ to commemorate the 60thanniversary of IYCW Rome Pilgrimage 1957.
