Spanish pilgrimage city kicks off Holy Year celebrations

The Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela prepared yesterday to kick off a Holy Year, when those who make a pilgrimage believe they are granted remission for their sins.

A Holy Year is held whenever July 25, the name day of St James the Apostle whose remains are believed to lie in the northern city's imposing cathedral, falls on a Sunday, as it does in 2010.

The chime of the city's over one thousand bells rang out yesterday to mark the start of the Holy Year, followed by the reading of a message from Pope Benedict XVI.

At midnight a fireworks and light show was held at the Praza do Obradoiro, the majestic square in front of the cathedral which is the focal point for the tens of thousand of pilgrims who arrive in the city each year. Pilgrims who have travelled at least 100 kilometres on foot or 200 kilometres by bicycle or horseback obtain the "compostela", the Latin certificate confirming they have completed a pilgrimage to the cathedral.

Indulgences, or remission of sins, are granted to those who complete the "Camino de Santiago", or "The Way", as the pilgrim route is known. Special festivities are held throughout a Holy Year and the number of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela increases sharply.

The Spanish government has invited the Pope to visit the city in 2010.

The last Holy Year was in 2004 and it attracted six million visitors to the city. The next Holy Year will be in 2021.