Some Christians go on pilgrimages to ‘pay back’ God for answering their prayers. This was more common in the Middle Ages when people would pray for God to grant them something, and promise to go on a pilgrimage if the wish was granted.
Some sites of pilgrimage, such as Lourdes in France, have a history for healing physical disorders. Some people visit these places in the hope that they will be healed, or that the experience will help them come to terms with their illness and accept it. In a similar way, Christians who feel far from God might go on pilgrimages for spiritual healing.
Although pilgrimage is strictly different from a holiday, some Christians who are thinking of going on holiday instead visit a place of pilgrimage, for example the Holy Land. There they enjoy themselves but also meet with other Christians and worship God.
Although the pilgrimage in Rome doesn't have a hisotry for healing physical disorders like Lourdes it doesn't mean it's any less important. Rome is important as a place of pilgrimage because theres the Vatican which is the Head of the Roman Catholic Church and the pope lives there who is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Another reason why it's important is because St Peter (leader of the Early Church) and St Paul (great missionary) were both martyred there
Pilgrimages can have a dramatic effect on people’s lives. Christians going on pilgrimage come back refreshed, feeling close to God and ready to preach his word to others. Pilgrimage can resolve any doubts they have about God and Christianity, and they can tell others about the faith without worrying themselves about its integrity.
A group going on pilgrimage together can also benefit collectively, getting to know each other better due to their common belief in God. New friends can also be made from other countries, particularly if the place of pilgrimage is somewhere like the Holy Land, visited by pilgrims from all over the world, and correspondence can continue for many years. Getting to know about the Christian Church in other parts of the world in this way can help Christians understand God better, and encourage others to as well.
Not all pilgrims visiting Christian places of pilgrimage are Christians. Pilgrims who have just gone on pilgrimage to be healed of a physical disability may be converted to the Christian faith, whether or not they are healed. For example, some pilgrims visiting a site renowned for miracles of physical healing return regularly after their initial visit, because they enjoy the experience and also, perhaps more importantly, because it helps them to come to terms with their illness. Of course, if the person is healed their life will change dramatically, and may be extended by a number of years. Problems other than long-term illnesses, such as depression possibly, can also be cured by pilgrimage, the pilgrim seeing the joy other have in God and wanting to follow their example.
I asked my grandma a simple question of "Why do Christians go on pilgrimages?" She answered:
"There are so many reason why i go on pilgrimage and why i would definatly go again but i'll try and give you the main reasons.
When I went to Lourdes on pilgrimage i went to deepen my faith by spending more time in prayer and Bible study. I mostly enjoyed the sense of community being in the presence of other Christians who believe the same as me, it felt like we were one big family and it was nice sharing our views on different things we weren't prehaps sure we believed in before. When i came back i felt emotionally healed and seeing all the poor children with disabilities made me realise how lucky I am and made me appreciate my own gifts and the gifts of others. I was also inspired by walking in the footsteps of Christ and would definatly advise going there and sharing the wonderful experience I had."