The wording has now been updated in both the Spanish and English version of the Pilgrim Office website, so though there are still questions around what the wording means, at least it is consistent and probably here to stay.
Screenshots from today, 12 Feb 2025: Left, Spanish website, google translated; and right, English. Both state the rule is to complete a minimum of 100 ‘continuous’ kilometres and that the ‘last stage’ should end at the cathedral.
Some say this is to be interpreted as 100 continuous km along any one recognised camino, ie from Burgos to Sahagun, a nice 126 km stretch of meseta, and then skipping forward and walking ‘the last’ stage, which is not yet clarified, but could mean arriving in Santiago and walking into the cathedral, or from Pedrouzo, or maybe Monte Gozo, would make you eligible for a compostela.
Some say this is clear as a bell, some are not so sure; some say that for the last stage of a continuous 100 kms to end at the cathedral, the pilgrim must logically start in the usual places – Sarria, Ferrol, Vigo, Tui – and nothing has changed.
Some understand the 100 km and the last stage as two clearly different requirements which will allow more flexibility and spread the pressure away from the usual places and that it could make a huge difference.
I am staying well out of it for now and posting updated screen shots. What do you think?
Somewhere Slowly 