VATICAN CITY — On Tuesday, Pope Francis officially launched the 2025 Holy Year, marking the beginning of a significant celebration for the Catholic Church. This event is anticipated to attract roughly 32 million pilgrims to Rome, posing a true test of both the pope’s endurance and the city’s capabilities to accommodate such a crowd.
From his wheelchair, the pope tapped on the grand Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which opened to a chorus of tolling bells throughout the city. As he was wheeled through, the choir inside the basilica commenced the Christmas Eve Mass.
In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized that the Holy Year presents an opportunity to alleviate the debts of impoverished countries and highlights the need for environmental protection. He articulated that the Jubilee aims to “bring hope to the interminable, dreary days of prisoners, to the cold and dismal lodgings of the poor, and to all those locations desecrated by war and violence.”
This ceremony launched the Jubilee, a tradition observed once every 25 years, where Catholic believers journey to Rome for spiritual renewal.
The theme of this Jubilee, dedicated to hope, will be further reinforced by the pope when he opens a Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison in Rome on Thursday, intending to inspire inmates toward a brighter future. Pope Francis has devoted considerable time to prison ministry and has previously visited Rebibbia and other correctional facilities during his pastoral missions.
In response to heightened security measures following a recent Christmas market attack in Germany, the Vatican heightened security protocols. Italian authorities have deployed additional police patrols and enhanced surveillance around the city. Pilgrims attending the events faced security checks and metal detectors before entering St. Peter’s Square, which was surrounded by reinforced police barriers.
At the age of 88, Pope Francis entered this Jubilee celebration battling a cold that required him to deliver blessings from indoors during the preceding week. However, he appeared energetic and in good health during the evening’s festivities. The pope’s health remains a concern given his history of bronchitis, particularly against the backdrop of a demanding calendar of events lined up for the Holy Year.
Among the significant events planned is the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a teenage tech prodigy regarded as the first saint of the millennial and digital age, during a Jubilee aimed at young people in April.
This week, the pope will also present his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day. Beyond the event at Rebibbia, he will preside over New Year’s Eve vespers and a New Year’s Day Mass.
Rome is stepping cautiously into the Jubilee period, having endured two years of infrastructural improvements aimed at enhancing transportation and emergency services, which have tested local patience.
Presently, only about a third of the 323 planned projects have been completed, and the city is already feeling the impact of overtourism. Tourism in Italy has surged since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, leading to a spike in short-term vacation rentals, which have exacerbated the existing housing situation.
Some of Rome’s key attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain, have recently reopened their doors, and a critical project— a pedestrian piazza connecting Castel St. Angelo to the Via della Conciliazione, which leads to St. Peter’s Square—was completed just in time for the Jubilee.
Vatican officials affirm that Rome has a longstanding tradition of being welcoming to pilgrims, citing the lasting impact of previous Jubilees on the city’s urban and spiritual environments. For instance, the Sistine Chapel was constructed for the Jubilee of 1475, and a large Vatican parking garage was built ahead of the 2000 Jubilee during Pope John Paul II’s papacy.
The first Holy Year was established by Pope Boniface VII in 1300, with modern Jubilees occurring approximately every 25 to 50 years. Pilgrims participating in the event can receive “indulgences,” which are essentially tokens of forgiveness for sins akin to a “get out of Purgatory free” card.
Pope Francis previously declared a special Jubilee focused on mercy in 2015-2016, with the next Jubilee slated for 2033, marking the anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion. The previous ordinary Jubilee took place in 2000 when Pope John Paul II welcomed the Catholic Church into the third millennium. Notably, the one in 1975 was marked by the dramatic near-miss involving Pope Paul VI, who was almost struck by falling plaster as he opened the Holy Door. In contrast, the walls behind the door have been removed well in advance in contemporary times.
