The Path to Hope 

Pope Francis has opened the doors of hope, but we must not forget the journey. It’s not just about reaching the destination —it’s about the steps we take along the way.

Many would remember growing up by a river, rounding up mates, and setting off without a second thought. Down the road, over fences, dodging bulls, cutting through paddocks—there was a rhythm to it, a quiet thrill in knowing the river waited. We’d stash our bikes, feel the dry grass crunch beneath us, then dive into the cool, calm waters. But looking back, it wasn’t just the water that refreshed us. It was the journey.

The hope of fishing, swimming, skipping rocks, and talking about the future filled us with something deeper than we realized. We spoke of the lives we’d one day have—important jobs, responsibilities, adulthood that seemed so far away. We thought the destination was everything. But what if, in yearning to reach our goal, we actually risk missing what actually gives it meaning?

Pope Francis reminds us that pilgrimage is central to faith. “Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life.” A pilgrimage isn’t just about reaching a holy place—it’s about walking, step by step, letting the journey transform us. It’s about moving forward, striving in faith, seeking Jesus on the road.

Faith isn’t found in rushing ahead. It’s found in the steps, the effort, the silence. Like those long walks to the river, faith is a steady journey. We walk not just to arrive, but to encounter—to see, listen, and give thanks. Just as the journey made the river sweeter, it is the pilgrimage itself that makes hope so life-giving.

The roads may be long, the fences high, and the bulls fierce, but step by step, we move forward. Not alone, not aimlessly, but with the quiet assurance that every challenge, every moment of silence, every act of perseverance, draws us closer to the One who calls us onward—Jesus.