These young German altar servers from the Diocese of Freiburg have come as a group to Rome to celebrate the week-long XII Altar Server Pilgrimage, where they will finally see Pope Francis after more than a year of preparation.
Under the motto “ Search for peace and follow it,” more than 60,000 altar servers between the ages of 14 and 23 will be in the Eternal City to live their faith in the heart of Christianity. The majority of them are German, but another 18 countries are also represented.
ALTAR SERVER
“We had a service this morning with all of the people from the regions and we were 8,000 people this morning. It was just great.”
“We are 63 people, so right now we are just 12 because we split. Yesterday, we were 63 people in Rome, and it was just too much.”
“So you start organizing the trip one year before you go, so you start with the little things...”
It's the dream trip for every altar server, but not everyone is able, as the minimum age to participate in the pilgrimage is 14 years old.
ALTAR SERVER
“Everywhere you are in Rome, you see people with hats and shirts. We went to a very small restaurant and even there were people with shirts from Germany.”
It's an undoubtedly unique experience, as well as intense, especially because its some of their first times away from home.
ALTAR SERVER
“I am very happy, and it's a great experience because I never 'arrived' here before and it's really big.”
“I think it's very special because not everybody can see him, and I'm very happy to do this.”
It's a trip they'll never forget, due to all the special experiences: living the faith, seeing the pope and enjoying the streets of one of the most historic cities in the world.
