The previous Jubilee was extraordinary as it was announced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Council.
I was fortunate enough to be at the heart of all the celebrations in the Eternal City which resounded in religious fervour, with the many of its exquisite churches holding special commemorations and services highlighting the theme of Mercy. I vividly remember the solemnity and grandeur in which the special Jubilee Mass was held to commemorate the Easter and the special service at St Peter’s Square. The atmosphere was electric and spiritual, with scores of people from all over the world congregating to the magnificent square to take in the special message of hope and peace delivered by their beloved papa.
Basilica of St. John Lateran
A Jubilee refers to a special year of celebration and forgiveness in the Catholic Church, during which the faithful can receive special indulgences, partake in acts of penance, and experience spiritual renewal. The Jubilee is a fantastic time to be in Rome, especially for those of the Catholic faith; this time around it will be themed as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and will be a time of redemption and hope for many Catholics around the world.
This Jubilee year commenced on December 24, 2024 with the opening of the Holy Door at the St Peter’s Basilica exactly at 7.00 pm by Pope Francis and concluded on Epiphany, January 6, 2026.This solemn occasion was followed by a Night Mass in honour of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Holy Doors of the other papal churches of St. John Lateran Basilica (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano), St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura) and Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) have been ceremoniously opened by Vatican Cardinals.
Each month the Jubilee celebrations will focus on sections of society from the world of communications and armed forces to schoolchildren to artists, with special conferences, meetings, liturgical services focusing on how each sector configures into the Catholic world. The jubilee celebrations will also feature special exhibitions, concerts, plays and pilgrimages devoted to highlighting this year’s message of hope.
History of the Jubilee
According to ancient Judaism, the Jubilee Year was named the year of the yōbēl, or the goat, and was generally observed every 50 years. The holiday was thus announced to the sound of a goat’s horn and was a year that was declared holy. During this time, the Mosaic law stipulated that slaves could be freed and that land which belonged to God should be returned to its former owners.
In the Christian period, following the first Jubilee in 1300, Pope Boniface VIII designated the frequency of the Jubilee celebrations every 100 years. A plea from the people of Rome to Pope Clement VI in 1342 resulted in a 50-year interval between the Jubilee years.
In 1389, in memory of the number of years in the life of Christ, Urban VI declared the Jubilee cycle to an interval of 33 years and called for a Jubilee in 1390—although observed following his death by Pope Boniface IX. Despite this, in 1400, at the end of the previously fixed 50-year period, a Jubilee was declared ahead of time by Boniface IX granting the luxury of a Jubilee to the pilgrims flocking to Rome. In 1425, Martin V observed a new Jubilee by opening the Holy Door of St John Lateran for the first time.
Basilica of St Maria Maggiore
The last Jubilee to be celebrated on a 50-year cycle was in 1450 under Pope Nicholas V. Paul II expanded the inter-jubilee duration by 25 years, while in 1475; a Holy Year was marked by Sixtus IV. Following this period, ordinary Jubilees were maintained at periodic gaps. The outbreak of Napoleonic wars resulted in the cancellation of the festivities of the Jubilees of 1800 and 1850.
The Jubilee year resumed in 1875, following the annexation of Rome to the Italian Kingdom and observed without the customary solemnity of the preceding years.
The Jubilee year is expected to inundate the city with pilgrims this is not discounting the usual throng of tourists that gather in the Italian capital for tourist purposes. During the course of the twelve months of the year 2025 millions of Catholic devotees will make a pilgrimage to Rome, 35 million to be exact. The papal events began in December and will experience the height of the influx of crowds towards the commencement and concluding ceremonies which will coincide with the principal religious feasts. According to the Deputy Mayor of Mobility in Rome, Eugenio Patanè, Rome is up for this monumental year: “Like all capitals, we are constantly under pressure from tourism and frequent mega-events. Rome is a city where we embrace these challenges and welcome visitors, so these big events don’t scare us. We know how to adapt to the pressure.”
The previous Jubilee apart from the 2016 extraordinary Jubilee that took place in 2,000 attracted over 80 million visitors to Rome.
Hope and forgiveness
The year’s Jubilee heralds one of hope and forgiveness which applies to transport which has always been a contentious front in Rome given the consequential advancements the city promises to offer. The huge gush of pilgrims is expected to strain and test the infrastructural capabilities of Rome.
However, the city has taken up this to task remarkably well as it has always done in the face of cultural and religious mega-events. However, given the duration of the year-long religious celebration facilitation between local, regional, and national administrations will be a crucial factor. Patanè, has talked about the significance of this partnership, “every institution must work together because if we don’t, we would have serious trouble.” The public transport system in Rome unlike in other European capitals has come under scrutiny for inefficiency and strikes. Thus a cohesive approach is necessary to ensure that all levels of governance are aligned in addressing the city’s mobility requirements during the occasion.
In expectation of the Jubilee, the city has obtained €530 million devoted to transportation requirements from the Italian government.
St Peter’s Basilica
The emphasis on transport will benefit Romans and the scores of tourists who will continue to visit the city long after the Jubilee. The revival of the metro infrastructure is among their most enterprising projects.
St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City is one of the most significant Catholic churches in the world and one of the principal sites during the Jubilee pilgrimage. Pilgrims can see the tomb of St. Peter and experience the special masses during the Jubilee celebrations which are deeply spiritual and a moving experience. The Basilica’s Holy Door, which is only opened during Jubilee years, will be a prominent aspect during the Jubilee. Piazza San Pietro also known as St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City will be at the heart of the Jubilee celebrations and will be a gathering place for multiple celebrations with special events, masses, and gatherings with Pope Francis set to take centre stage amidst the magnificent Egyptian obelisk and Bernini colonnades.
Important churches
St. John Lateran Basilica in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano is one of the Cathedrals of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope and is one of the most important churches for Catholics. It is closely connected with the papacy, and the Jubilee Masses here are particularly significant. Founded in 324 it is the oldest public church in Rome and one of the oldest Basilicas in Europe. The church is the oldest and highest-ranking of the four major papal Basilicas and among the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas and one of the seven pilgrim churches in Rome and the largest church dedicated to the veneration of Virgin Mary. The church retains important relics, including the Crib of Jesus, and is a place of deep spiritual significance and is set to host several liturgies during the Jubilee.
The Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four major patriarchal basilicas. The church retains important relics, including the Crib of Jesus, and is a place of deep spiritual significance and is set to host several liturgies during the Jubilee. The basilica consecrates the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani, representing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the health and protectress of the Roman people, which was granted a Canonical coronation by Pope Gregory XVI on 15 August 1838 attended by his Papal bull Cælestis Regina.
The Pope opening the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica
St. Paul’s Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is among the four major basilicas in Rome. It is about 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) southeast of the Colosseum and is named in honour of St. Paul the Apostle. The original church was founded in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine I over the site where St. Paul was believed to have been buried. The current structure, however, was mostly built after a fire in 1823 destroyed much of the earlier church. The rebuilding was completed in 1854. The basilica will host masses, prayers, and ecumenical events centred on hope in line with the theme of the Jubilee Year.
The Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta) are located near the Lateran Basilica are a set of 28 white marble steps located in an edifice on extraterritorial possessions of the Holy See in Rome, close to the Archbasilica of Saint John in Laterano. Officially, the construction is called the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs (Pontificio Santuario della Scala Santa) and includes sections of the old Papal Lateran Palace. Replica of the stairs flanks the authentic staircase, which can only be ascended upon one’s knees. The Holy Stairs leads one to the Church of Saint Lawrence in Palatio ad Sancta Sanctorum (Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Palatio ad Sancta Sanctorum) or simply the “Sancta Sanctorum” Holy of Holies which was the private chapel of the earliest Popes.
According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, the Holy Stairs were the steps that ushered one to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial. The Stairs were transported to Rome by the mother of Emperor Constantine, Saint Helena during the fourth century.
This Jubilee year promises to be another special year for Rome which calls for those of the Catholic faith to renew their spiritual aspirations and take a close look at their spiritual life and seek to forgive sins of others and of their own. During this special time Rome will be at the centre of attention to Catholic communities across the world. The Eternal City amidst ancient constructions and its papal churches will no doubt sparkle as it has always done. Embedded in centuries of history, the Jubilee brings together millions of pilgrims from across the world to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness through sacred rituals, prayers, and liturgies. The continuing relevance of these sacred observances reminds us of the importance of faith, hope, and reconciliation in the lives of all those who embark on this pilgrimage to the heart of Christianity, Rome.
