Over 8,000 Australians are expected in Rome, ahead of Mary MacKillop's canonisation on Sunday.
SBS correspondent Auskar Surbakti has joined a number of pilgrims as they retraced the journey of the future saint.
"It's amazing to think how she was here over 100 years ago," Karen Bergen told SBS.
The pilgrims are visiting the many places in Rome that were special to Mary MacKillop.
At the time it took MacKillop six weeks to get to Rome and that took its toll on her health.
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Leading the pilgrims is a sister of St Joseph.
"Mary suffered of illness while she was in Rome, so let's think about the times when we are ill", she said addressing the pilgrims.
Mary Steenson from NSW is just one of many who believe MacKillop saved their lives.
"Well, I had cancer last year so I went praying a lot to Mary MacKillop and I just feel that I needed to come and walk in her steps," she told SBS.
MacKillop (1842-1909), a nun and teacher who fell out with church authorities after denouncing a paedophile priest, is due to be formally recognised as a Catholic saint at a mass in the Vatican on Sunday.
Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, has arrived in Rome to help celebrate the mass and many nuns from the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart -- the order that MacKillop helped found -- are also expected.
Australian consular authorities have parked a camper van on the edge of St Peter's square to help pilgrims and there will be an evening of Aborigine dances and art in the Vatican museum later on Friday ahead of the ceremony.
Australian officials said 8,000 people were expected in Rome for the mass.
"This is the biggest contingent of Australians to travel overseas in peacetime ever," Pell told reporters in the Vatican ahead of the mass.
Nationwide celebrations are also planned in Australia for Sunday's canonisation, with MacKillop's former home town of Penola expecting up to 20,000 worshippers and special masses across the country.
Pell said the the example of MacKillop's saintly life would boost the Catholic church in Australia and could also help convert non-believers.
"Certainly this canonisation will help, it will encourage people," he said.
"For those people who are looking for something, I would say have a look at Mary MacKillop. She was a woman of faith."
