The door has been opened for the 2025 jubilee year in Rome which continues until January 6 2026 and which is expected to attract 30-32m pilgrims.
Pilgrims can earn indulgences through visits to holy sites, passing through the jubilee doors at the four papal basilicas in Rome and acts of charity, such as supporting the sick and prisoners, aligning with the Jubilee’s theme of hope.
Rome is undergoing extensive preparations with significant investments and heightened security measures to ensure the safety and comfort of the expected mass of visitors.
The first Jubilee was instituted by Pope Boniface VIII (1230 –1303) in 1300. Since then, it has become a regular event in the Catholic Church. The Jubilee is generally celebrated every 25 years, with some exceptions for extraordinary Jubilees proclaimed for special occasions.
The last extraordinary Jubilee in 2016 attracted 20.4 million vsitors. The 27th holy year in history, it commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second Vatican Council and was dedicated to Mercy. It was he first time holy doors were opened in single dioceses, either in the cathedral or in historical churches.
No tickets are required to attend the celebrations, but attendees should register for the event through the Portal of the official Jubilee website.
Don Francesco Scalzotto, official of the Dicastery for Evangelisation shared “the Jubilee was born in the 1300s as a people’s event, understood as a time of forgiveness of sins, which does not leave out any aspect of personal, community and social life. The event also recovers the ancient tradition of the biblical Jubilee, which was a time of liberation, peace and social bonds.”
More information at https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
The four basilicas: our doors are open
- St. Peter’s Basilica: Located in Vatican City, this is the most famous basilica and one of the largest churches in the world. It is a major pilgrimage site and is considered a symbol of the Catholic Church. The basilica is renowned for its stunning architecture, including the iconic dome designed by Michelangelo, and houses significant works of art like Michelangelo’s Pietà and the altar of St. Peter.
- St. John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano): This is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the pope. It is regarded as the “Mother and Head of all the Churches of the City and the World” and is the oldest of the four papal basilicas. Its architectural style blends Romanesque and Baroque, and it features beautiful frescoed interiors and a grand façade. It is here that the door to mark the opening of jubilee year was opened by Pope Francis. The famous and somewhat controversial façade was designed by Alessandro Galilei who also designed the façade of the main block of Castletown House in Celbridge.
- St. Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore): This basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome. It is renowned for its stunning mosaics, including the famous apse mosaics depicting the life of Mary, and the relic of the Holy Crib, claimed to be the manger of Jesus.
- St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura): This basilica is built over the burial site of St. Paul the Apostle and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the city. It features a beautiful façade and a majestic interior adorned with mosaics and sculptures. The vast gardens surrounding the basilica offer a peaceful retreat for visitors.
