On April 22 and 23, 2024, the “In cammino” team reached two Belgian Trappist Abbeys: Scourmont and Orval, marking them the sixth and seventh stops on this journey to the spiritual roots of Europe. A symbolic and cultural “pilgrimage” that focused on the theme of “Water” at both stops, resulting in two intense days of meetings, debates, and performances.

The first stop was the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Scourmont, founded in the mid-1800s in the Wallonia region, a few kilometers from the French border. This monastic community is well known for its beer, Chimay, named after the town surrounding the Scourmont complex. The beer, known and appreciated both at home and abroad, is distinguished by the ATP (Authentic Trappist Product) label, whose strict protocol requires that the monks themselves oversee production within the Abbey. Even today, many amongst the 15 monks residing at Scourmont divide their time between spiritual duties, prayer, and work, following the Benedictine motto Ora et labora, which also inspires the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance, the Trappist Fathers.

Monday, April 22, began at 9 a.m. with a visit to the Abbey — the Church is unfortunately under renovation — and the adjoining brewery, with a special guide, Alessandro Bonin, Export Manager of Chimay.

The brewing facility occupies an entire wing within the Abbey’s walls, with spacious areas specifically designed for beer production. From the analysis laboratories, where the yeast is selected, and the ingredients are carefully tested (including the water sourced from the spring that runs through the Abbey grounds), to the centrifuges and gigantic fermentation and storage silos. It is essential, in order to bear the label of authentic Trappist beer, that every stage of production takes place within the Abbey, following the traditional recipe and under the supervision of the monks, as Bonin explained: “Our beer is produced here step by step, while bottling is done in a modern factory located in Baileux, about ten kilometers from the Abbey, with daily transport in large tank trucks. Today, the entire Chimay Group employs more than 250 people, in addition to the local dairy producers, thanks to our production of typical cheeses, such as Poteaupré”.

Chimay is now the largest brewery in Belgium, with an annual production of 180,000 hectoliters and exports across several continents, from Europe to America.

In the afternoon, at 4 p.m., the second part of the day began with a meeting held in a hall within the Abbey. Father Armand Veilleux, theologian and Abbot of Scourmont from 1998 to 2017, welcomed the guests. In addition to founding monasteries in Africa and South America, he has frequently visited Milan during the time of Cardinal Martini as Apostolic Visitor to the monastic community of Viboldone.

“It is always a joy for us monks – said Dom Armand – to welcome pilgrims from another country. Thus, our entire community thanks you for including us in your itinerary”.

Next, President Livia Pomodoro spoke, thanking Dom Armand for his hospitality and offering greetings to those present, as well as expressing gratitude to Italy’s Ambassador to Belgium, H. E. Federica Favi. She emphasized the importance of “this brief but intense journey that has brought us here to Belgium, to such a historically rich and fascinating location. The theme of water, which will guide these meetings, was not chosen by chance: as you know, on March 22, exactly one month ago, we celebrated World Water Day—a theme that symbolizes peace, life, equality, and justice for the entire planet and all people. It is a very important and significant message that we bring as a gift to this Abbey, to continue our pilgrimage while imagining the future of Europe”.

1. E. Federica Favi then delivered her speech, stating: “Thank you everyone for the invitation, and I thank the Abbot and all of you for your hospitality… President Pomodoro’s project is truly enlightening in many ways. It fits into the Jubilee route toward Rome and is, in my opinion, unique since it combines three aspects: the first is culture, the second is spirituality, and the third aspect is the territories. Culture is the key that opens the doors to dialogue, which is essential for peace. Spirituality is well represented by the Abbeys, and since this is a project with multiple stops, naturally the territories are fundamental elements, as we can see here at Chimay. The territories represent the cradles of civilization and allow us to establish deep roots and continue traditions. In Italy, we value the territory greatly as the source of our culture. Today, territories are not only about tradition but also a perspective toward the future, and this is evident with the commitment of both Belgium and Italy, along with many other countries, toward the green transition and environmental protection. Celebrating water within this context, I believe, is the most extraordinary insight because water is life, nature, and a bridge between civilizations, as we see in the Mediterranean, for example. Water itself is also culture. So, thank you, and congratulations to all for bringing me to Scourmont and Chimay with this remarkable project”.
   
   

Xavier Pirlot, General Director of Bières et Fromages de Chimay, also welcomed everyone and explained about the brewery: “The brewery is a business that not only embraces excellence in beer production but also takes responsibility for the environment. Since its founding in 1862, the brewery has grown and become a recognized brand both in Belgium and Europe, and, without wanting to sound immodest, worldwide. The ties between Italy and Belgium are numerous; Chimay has been exporting its beers for fifty years, and Italy represents our fourth-largest market. The brewery is aware of its impact on society, both in terms of employment and environmental preservation. We are increasingly committed to implementing eco-sustainable practices, respecting the surrounding environment, especially water, by avoiding waste and minimizing its consumption”.

At the end of this first part of the afternoon meeting, President Pomodoro presented Dom Armand with a copy of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini’s book “Il lembo del mantello (The Hem of the Garment)” as a token of appreciation.