"To trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and... to leave a mark..." : pilgrimaging and religious tourism of academic youth

A significant decline in pilgrimage activity among Polish academic youth is evident, with 68% reporting marginal engagement in religious tourism and over half not participating in a pilgrimage within the past year. The study highlights that family pilgrimage traditions during childhood or adolescence correlate with higher adult activity, whereas their absence leads to diminished interest. Additionally, youth involvement in major events like World Youth Day (2016) and the Jubilee Year of Mercy was notably low, with 77% not engaging in such activities. Data from key sanctuaries, including Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, show a post-2005 drop in religious youth groups, while interest in the Camino de Santiago remains minimal (4% abroad). The research underscores a broader trend of declining religiousness among Polish youth, as documented by the Catholic Church's statistics.

Mróz, F. (2018). “To trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and... to leave a mark...” : pilgrimaging and religious tourism of academic youth. World Youth Day 2016 Kraków : The School of Faith and Humanity, 231–251. https://doi.org/10.15633/9788374387361.15