24/05/2026
Yesterday, the Romanian Association of the Order of Malta together with confreres from Hungary and beyond, took part in the annual Șumuleu Ciuc / Csíksomlyó Pilgrimage.
The Pilgrimage is one of the most significant Roman Catholic Marian pilgrimage traditions in Central and Eastern Europe. It takes place in present-day Șumuleu Ciuc, now part of Miercurea Ciuc in Harghita County, a region of eastern Transylvania with a centuries-old Catholic heritage.
The pilgrimage site predates the modern Romanian state and has long played an important role in the spiritual life and cultural identity of the Székely people and the wider Hungarian Catholic communities, while today also forming an important part of the shared religious landscape of Romania.
Franciscan monks established a spiritual centre in the fifteenth century, and from 1442 onward the church and monastery at Csíksomlyó developed into a recognised place of prayer and devotion. In 1444, Pope Eugenius IV encouraged the faithful to sustain and support this spiritual life, granting indulgences to those contributing to the building and maintenance of the church.
Over time, the shrine became closely associated with the protection of the Virgin Mary, especially in connection with events from 1567 remembered in both local tradition and historical accounts. During this period, Prince John II Sigismund Zápolya, who supported Unitarian and Protestant reforms in Transylvania, sought to influence the religious direction of the region, including forced conversion of the historically Catholic Székely population. According to tradition, many Székelys remained steadfast in their Catholic faith and as such, were prepared to defend it. A confrontation is said to have taken place on the Saturday before Pentecost on the fields near Csíksomlyó, with the local priest István of Joseni credited with rallying the faithful. Traditional narratives recount that despite the odds being against them, the Catholics prevailed and the opposing forces withdrew, an outcome regarded as a sign of the Virgin Mary’s protection. This memory, interpreted as a sign of divine care, deeply marked the community and laid the foundation for the annual Pentecost pilgrimage.
Despite changing political and historical circumstances, devotion at Șumuleu Ciuc endured, including through periods when public religious life faced challenges. Since the early 1990s, the pilgrimage has flourished once again, and today it brings together many tens of thousands of believers each Pentecost from across Romania, Hungary, other neighbouring countries, and ever-increasingly from the global Catholic community.
Within the diverse spiritual tapestry of Romania, Șumuleu Ciuc stands as a place of devotion, continuity, and mutual respect among the communities who share this historic and beautiful land. The pilgrimage offers a moment of unity, prayer, and as a witness to faith.
