Honorary Ambassadors and Experts on the Way

The Honorary Ambassador

This is a distinction granted by the Xunta de Galicia which distinguishes the work of persons and institutions in defence of the Way and its values.

In 2013, the Xunta de Galicia created the concept of the ‘Honorary Ambassador of the Way of Saint James'. Since 2014, with this initiative, the Government of Galicia has distinguished the work of natural and legal persons who have contributed especially to the knowledge and dissemination of the Way, as well as to the Jacobean culture and values.

In 2013, the Xunta de Galicia created the concept of the ‘Honorary Ambassador of the Way of Saint James'

There are two categories of 'Honorary Ambassador of the Way ', both are for life and exclusively honorary: the personal category and the institutional category

There are two categories of 'Honorary Ambassador of the Way ', both are for life and exclusively honorary: the personal category and the institutional category.

The presentation of proposals of candidates for the Title may be carried out throughout the year. The Ambassadors will undertake to collaborate in the annual cultural programming of the Xunta de Galicia with, at least, one action or activity for the dissemination of the human, social, cultural and spiritual values of the Way.

Furthermore, a maximum of eight Titles of Lifetime Ambassador may be granted in each category, corresponding to the eight historical routes of the Way of Saint James.

The ceremony for the reception of the distinction is held in the month of October each year, coinciding with the day on which the Way was declared to be the First European Cultural Itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1987.

Who are the Honorary Ambassadors of the Pilgrim Route and how many are there?

Up until 2019, five honorary ambassadors had been named: the King of Spain, Felipe VI; the former coach of the Spanish national football team, Vicente del Bosque; the former president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy; the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I; and, lastly, the Council of Europe.

Up until 2019, the Xunta de Galicia had recognised five Honorary Ambassadors of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Route: the first was the current King of Spain, Felipe VI, who was appointed when he was still Prince of Asturias; the former coach of the Spanish national football team, Vicente del Bosque González; the former president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy Brey; the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I; and, lastly, the Council of Europe.

The North Way by the Ponte dos Santos which joins Asturias and Galicia

The concession is for life and recognises the contribution to the knowledge and dissemination of the Way of Saint James through out the world

The Government of Galicia has recognised all of their special contributions to raising awareness and promoting the Way of Saint James all over the world.

The International Committee of Experts on the Way

This was set up in 1992 in order to advise the Xunta de Galicia on the scientific and cultural fields related to the Way of Saint James.

The International Committee of Experts on the Way of Saint James was set up in 1992, on the eve of the first Plan Xacobeo of the Government of Galicia boosted for the Holy Year of 1993. It was necessary to create a group of researchers and experts with international prestige to advise the Xunta de Galicia in the scientific and cultural fields of the Way of Saint James: itineraries, publications, study centres, congress, exhibitions, etc.

Countryside with fog in O Cádavo (Lugo), Primitive Way

Paolo Caucci von Saucken is the President of a Committee made up of another eight specialists with renowned global prestige

One of the publications consolidated with the encouragement of the Committee of Experts was the Jacobean research journal, Ad Limina, it is of a multidisciplinary and multilingual nature and has been published since 2010 by the S.A. de Xestión do Plan Xacobeo (since 2015, published jointly with Turismo de Galicia).

The work of the Committee has also made it possible to keep Jacobean study centres active abroad, such as the Centre d’Etudes Compostellanes in Paris and the Centro Italiano di Studi Compostellani di Perugia.

The members, together with Paolo Caucci von Saucken, of the Committee of Experts, are Manuel Castiñeiras González, Klaus Herbers, Fernando López Alsina,  Adeline Rucquoi,  Segundo Leonardo Pérez López and María José Azevedo Santos.

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