Eternal City prepares to welcome millions for 2025 Jubilee Year

Dec 06, 2024

VATICAN: As the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope draws near, Vatican City is poised to host an estimated 35 million pilgrims. Beginning on Christmas Eve, the Jubilee will open with the symbolic unsealing of the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica, offering the faithful an opportunity to visit sacred sites, perform acts of devotion, and receive plenary indulgences granted by the Pope.

Held every 25 years, the Catholic Holy Year follows the 2024 Year of Prayer, designated by Pope Francis as a time for personal reflection on faith and vocation. The 2025 Jubilee, themed Pilgrims of Hope, centres on fostering peace in a world challenged by climate change and global conflicts.

For young Catholics, the Jubilee offers a unique spiritual journey. Steve Kerekes, founder of WorldYouthDay.com and JMJ Pilgrimages, has been organising youth pilgrimages across several countries, guiding participants to landmarks such as the Basilica of St John Lateran and the Appian Way catacombs, with the experience culminating in an audience with Pope Francis at Tor Vergata.

“Leaving their country behind is vital,” Kerekes said, emphasising the need to step away from daily distractions. “Pilgrimage is an act of love — a way for the faithful to replenish their spiritual wells and return home as forces for grace and mercy in today’s world.”

In Rome, St Patrick’s American Parish is preparing to welcome thousands of Anglophone pilgrims from across the globe, including Australia, Kenya, Ghana, and Singapore. The parish plans to extend its opening hours and publish an updated version of its pilgrim guide, last released for the 2000 Jubilee. The guide will provide practical advice and spiritual reflections for those embarking on the holy journey.

Fr Matt Berrios, the parish rector and a Paulist priest from the United States, highlighted the significance of sensory and historical experiences during pilgrimages.

“Rome’s pilgrimage spaces are extraordinary examples of art and spirituality,” Fr Berrios remarked. “Sometimes, art, poetry, and music express the core of our faith better than words ever can.”

Reflecting on the Jubilee theme, Fr Berrios described hope as integral to Christian spirituality.

“Hope reaches beyond ourselves. It’s about lighting the way not only for our own journey but for others who seek healing and faith,” he said.

Rooted in the biblical tradition of the jobel — a ram’s horn heralding a year of rest and renewal — the Jubilee is a centuries-old symbol of spiritual and communal rejuvenation.

For theologian Filomeno Lopez of Guinea- Bissau, the act of pilgrimage is a collective endeavour that fosters solidarity and empathy.

“Pilgrimage reinforces the idea of coming together, so when we return home, we carry something transformative,” he explained. “For us Africans, life’s essence is togetherness.”

Lopez also underscored the parallels between pilgrimage and the migrant experience.

“Christ was a migrant from heaven, and as humans, we are all temporary guests on Earth,” he said. “The Jubilee is a time to pause and reflect on what truly matters. Before I leave this world, what legacy can I leave for others?”
At its heart, the Jubilee of 2025 calls the global Church to renew its mission as a beacon of hope and healing in a fractured world.

Through prayer, acts of charity, and reflection, pilgrims are invited to embrace a vision of faith that prioritises peace, care for creation, and community.

As millions prepare to embark on their journey to Rome, the Jubilee promises to be a moment of profound spiritual renewal, uniting the faithful in shared hope for a brighter, more compassionate future. --Vatican News