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Notre-Dame de Chrétienté

French lay association that organises the annual traditional-rite Pentecost walking pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres, which drew about 20,000 people in 2026.

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About Notre-Dame de Chrétienté

Notre-Dame de Chrétienté is the French lay association that organises the Pentecost pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres, a three-day walk of about 100 km (60 miles) that ends with Mass in Chartres Cathedral and is celebrated with the traditional Latin liturgy (Notre-Dame de Chrétienté; America/OSV News). Its general chaplain, Abbé Jean de Massia, is a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (same source). The 2026 walk was billed as the 44th edition. The modern pilgrimage was first walked in 1983 under the Centre Henri et André Charlier; Wikipedia dates the association itself to the early 1990s, when the pilgrimage became independent of the Centre (Wikipedia). See Chartres pilgrimage.

Leadership. Jean de Tauriers led the association in 2024, when he described having raised capacity "in consultation with the civil and military authorities who ensure its security" (OSV News via The Tablet). Philippe Darantière has been president since 2025 (America/OSV News).

Growth. Reported participation rose from about 16,000 in 2023 to about 18,000 in 2024, 19,000 in 2025 and about 20,000 in 2026, with registration closing early and waiting lists (The Tablet; OSV News via The Tablet; Catholic World Report/CNA; Detroit Catholic/OSV News). For 2026, 14,000 places were taken within a day of registration opening (Catholic Herald).

Relations with Church authorities. CNA reported that in December 2024 the French daily La Croix revealed a review of the pilgrimage by the Dicastery for Divine Worship, and that in 2025 the bishop of Chartres asked organisers to allow priests who wished to do so to celebrate the current rite in his diocese (Catholic World Report/CNA). In 2026 Darantière told OSV News that relations between bishops and traditionalist priests had been difficult since 2021 but had calmed, and called Pope Leo XIV's letter urging bishops to welcome traditionalists a positive sign (America/OSV News). OSV News also reported that the association had been asked to help prepare the Pope's September 2026 visit to Paris (Detroit Catholic/OSV News).

On the timeline

Full timeline

Dated events, newest first.

  1. Cardinal Burke closes 2026 Chartres pilgrimage of about 20,000

    Cardinal Raymond Burke celebrated the closing Mass of the 44th Paris–Chartres pilgrimage; organisers had stressed unity with Leo XIV amid the SSPX crisis, and reports put attendance at a record of nearly or just over 20,000.

    3 sources

    Chartres pilgrimage for Latin Mass devotees grows as organizers warn against… (America (OSV News))France's traditionalist Catholics rally behind Pope Leo XIV after SSPX schism (Detroit Catholic (OSV News))Twenty thousand pilgrims in Chartres: the unstoppable missionary force of the… (InfoVaticana)

  2. Paris–Chartres pilgrimage ends with record 19,000 participants

    The 43rd traditional-rite Pentecost pilgrimage organised by Notre-Dame de Chrétienté closed with Mass in Chartres Cathedral; CNA reported 19,000 participants, the most in its history, amid Vatican scrutiny of its liturgical arrangements.

    SourcesChartres Pilgrimage Draws 19,000 in Show of Faith and Tradition (National Catholic Register (CNA))Record 19,000 young Catholics to walk Paris-Chartres pilgrimage amid Vatican… (Catholic World Report (CNA))

Sources for this profile

  1. The Paris-Chartres pilgrimage — Notre-Dame de Chrétienté
  2. The Pilgrimage — Notre-Dame de Chrétienté
  3. Chartres pilgrimage for Latin Mass devotees grows as organizers warn against renewed divisions — America (OSV News), May 21, 2026
  4. Chartres pilgrimage grows as organizers warn against renewed traditionalist divisions — OSV News
  5. [OSV News report by Caroline de Sury on the 2024 Paris–Chartres pilgrimage] — The Tablet (Diocese of Brooklyn)
  6. Chartres pilgrimage turns away marchers due to popularity — The Tablet, May 30, 2023
  7. Record 19,000 young Catholics to walk Paris-Chartres pilgrimage amid Vatican scrutiny — Catholic World Report (CNA), Jun 5, 2025
  8. France's traditionalist Catholics rally behind Pope Leo XIV after SSPX schism — Detroit Catholic (OSV News)
  9. 14,000 register in first day for 2026 Paris–Chartres pilgrimage — Catholic Herald
  10. Pilgrimage to Chartres — Wikipedia

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