An app to help travellers locate churches, relics, and tombs of saints has been released by a group of Rome-based Franciscan Friars—including our own Fr Charbel Boustany FFI.
Fr Boustany says the app, Rome Pilgrim, helps those who come to Rome find lesser-known religious spots and has released it in time for the Jubilee Year of Hope.
He says the app will help users to “not just be regular tourists but pilgrims” as they can explore more than 170 churches and basilicas and over 180 relics and tombs.
“It’s especially useful for the Jubilee year but it’s going to be useful forever,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
The friar, who was ordained to the priesthood in St Mary’s Cathedral in July 2024, said the app was devised by himself and some fellow friars to find “spiritual treasures” in Rome which may not be well known.
“When I first arrived I Rome five years ago, I noticed that so many people would come from Australia and America to visit me and they’d want to make a little pilgrimage,” he explained.
“I’d take them to different places and they’d be so surprised because they knew about St Peter’s but visit all these relics and tombs of saints.
“I wanted to make something that was available for everyone, not just my friends and family that come from Australia or America.”
Fr Boustany said in addition to helping locate the churches or relics, the app provides a description and vocational guide for each destination, which included a list of prayers tailor-made for the attraction.
“It tells them what’s around them anytime when they’re in Rome and even if they’re outside of Rome they can search through it with different categories,” he said.
Rome Pilgrim is available in English, Italian, French, and Spanish, and provides times and places of Masses being held in these languages.
The app also contains pilgrim maps so users can follow in the footsteps of saints and visit the places meaningful to them and their faith.
“We tried really hard to make it comprehensive, to make people have a good spiritual experience when they visit Rome,” Fr Boustany said.
Rome Pilgrim is available on IOS and Android and is free to download.
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