The Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela held the presentation of the 2027 Compostelan Holy Year on September 24 at the Monastery of São Martín Pinario. Archbishop Francisco José Prieto Fernández presided over the ceremony, which was attended by the Church, public institutions and other sectors of society. The event unveiled the motto, the hymn and the visual identity of the jubilee.
For the 2027 Holy Year, the Archdiocese chose the motto “On seeing the star, they were filled with immense joy,” taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Mt 2:10). This passage, which conveys the inner renewal, hope and guidance proposed for the jubilee, was the main theme of the ceremony. The archbishop associated the star with the search for meaning in the face of weariness, uncertainty and the fragility of personal relationships.
The presentation of the official hymn “A Field Full of Stars” accompanied the release of the jubilee’s new visual identity. The hymn, the graphics and the audiovisual materials draw mainly on three symbols: the star of the Botafumeiro (giant censer) mechanism, the stonemasons’ marks on the Cathedral and the figure of the apostle Santiago. Within this set, the apostle represents guidance toward Christ.
The archbishop asked the parishes and communities along the Camino to welcome believers and non-believers and to give pilgrims food and companionship, helping them find meaning in their journey. He argued that they should listen to questions before giving answers, without judging or disrespecting each person’s pace, preserving the tradition of hospitality, so that the pilgrimage keeps its spiritual dimension and is not limited to a tourism offering.
In his religious message, he highlighted forgiveness, reconciliation and joy grounded in God’s love and mercy, distinct from fleeting satisfaction. He noted that those who go on pilgrimage can slow down, find silence and rethink their priorities as they reflect on their doubts and losses. For the archbishop, the moment when the pilgrim arrives at the Cathedral and prays before the apostle’s tomb is a sign of conversion and a new beginning.
