As this chapter of my Via Francigena journey ends and I prepare to return home to the all that awaits me there, I reflect on what I’ve experienced and what I will leave behind.

On this pilgrimage, I’ve certainly experienced the adventure of discovering new places and the beauty of Italian towns and villages, the countryside and rolling hills of Tuscany and the passion of the Italian people and culture (history, food & wine, architecture, etc.) I enjoy so much. I’ve experienced a few of the people that make up the community of pilgrims on this section, in these stages, on these days of the Via Francigena. Like the people of our generation and neighbors, I didn’t choose them but I did have the chance to see them as “us” and “we” which is a posture toward my neighbor I hope to consistently possess. It seems to me our world is in the grips of a “them” epidemic in which we fear others if they’re not birds of our feather.

I also experienced challenges physically and emotionally on this pilgrimage in ways I didn’t expect. I’ll take these experiences home with me and will carry them into the months and years ahead as I continue to carry the impact of last year’s journey with me each day.

Perhaps the idea that resonates most with me as I prepare to depart, is wondering what I may be leaving behind this year. Could I leave behind long held fears and walk into a greater freedom? Maybe.

As I embarked on Chapter 2 of my Via Francigena adventure, I consented to the transformation that may be at work within me and offered another simple prayer: May I receive deep healing of wounds preventing me from being fully alive, fully human (as I was created to be), fully surrendered and fully available to experiencing (both giving and receiving) faith, hope and love. I remain open to this work within me and remain curious about the level of transformation possible as a result of being open to the change.

This simple sign held significance to me as a waypoint on the journey. I began the Via Francigena in Aosta last year on July 15, 2024, 538 kilometers from this spot. I ended this year’s journey on September 23, 2025 in Siena.

Thank you for wandering with me …