The Pilgrim’s Cross

Pilgrims have been traveling to the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of Christ since the earliest days of the Church. Throughout that time, it has been customary to return home with a remembrance of the long and often difficult journey.  We have shared previously about how some pilgrims would obtain a tattoo as a permanent reminder of their pilgrimage.  Others would return with water, dirt, or other relics from the land itself.  While people are still doing this today, there is also another unique souvenir that can only be obtained on a Catholic pilgrimage to the Holy Land – the Pilgrim’s Medal.

In the year 1900, Pope Leo XIII wanted to encourage even more pilgrimages to the Holy Land and decided to offer a special tangible sign of his approval that pilgrims could bring home with them. This year we celebrate the 125^th year of Pope Leo XIII’s Pilgrim’s Medal – highly appropriate given the recent elevation of Pope Leo XIV to the papacy.

Often called Pope Leo XIII’s Honor or the Lenoine Cross – named after the Pope – the Pilgrim’s Medal symbolizes the pilgrimage itself by its very design.  It is in the shape of a Jerusalem Cross – a larger cross with four corner crosses, representing how the faith spread to the four corners of the world from its humble beginning in Jerusalem.

An image of the Holy Father is on the medal, along with various scenes from throughout the life of Christ. These scenes took place in locations one visits on pilgrimage, so the medal is a visual reminder of all the holy sites. When receiving the medal, one also obtains a certificate depicting various basilicas and churches built over these holy sites.

Any Catholic pilgrim traveling to the Holy Land may request the medal if they fulfill the following requirements:

1. Physically go to the holy sites in a spirit of pilgrimage and pick up the medal in person.
2. Make a donation to support the local Church in the Holy Land (the donation amount varies based upon the type of medal requested – bronze, silver, or gold-plated)

Since this is an honor for Catholics, as instituted by the Pope, you will need to provide documentation of your Catholic status.  For more information about how to do that, please write to [email protected]. In general, a certificate of Confirmation would suffice.

Though this information was current at the time of writing, any updates and/or more information can be found on the website for the Custody of the Holy Land.  To request a medal to be picked up on an upcoming Holy Land pilgrimage, please email [email protected] no earlier than two weeks before your departure.

To see all of our upcoming Holy Land pilgrimages, please click here: