The Ignatian Way: Transforming people and communities

Abstract

The Ignatian Way (IW) is a pilgrimage route that Saint Ignatius of Loyola took in 1522, which goes through five different Autonomous Communities in the north of Spain, starting in the Basque Country location of Loyola, following La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and ending in the city of Manresa (Catalonia). It is walked by pilgrims from all over the world, mostly from the Jesuits' net.

Released in 2011, the path celebrated in 2022 the 500th anniversary of the journey Ignatius of Loyola made from his hometown of Azpeitia to a cave at the bottom of Montserrat mountain. With more than 650 kilometers, it includes significant tangible and intangible cultural heritage attractions that enrich this immersive four-week journey. The IW is an opportunity for pilgrims to find their inner selves, discover their life meaningfulness, look inside to make a deep reflection and socialize with others.

The present study explores the transformative power of this way not only for visitors in search of change but also for communities. 11 in-depth interviews were carried out with multi-stakeholder approach connected to the Jesuit network. The findings demonstrate the IW potential to transform people and societies, focusing on economic, cultural, social, religious, and environmental impacts. Pilgrimages may contribute to sustainable development and transformative tourism. Recommendations for further research and professionals are suggested, with a special focus on avoiding commodifying faith and tradition and reinforcing alliances with destinations and society.