Pope Francis Inaugurates 2025 Holy Year
Pope Francis officially commenced the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, embarking on a celebration anticipated to attract around 32 million pilgrims to Rome. This event will not only test the pope’s endurance but also challenge the ability of the Eternal City to accommodate such a massive influx of visitors.
From his wheelchair, the pope knocked several times, prompting the grand Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica to swing open. He was wheeled through the opening as the sound of bells resonated throughout Rome, coinciding with the start of the Christmas Eve Mass within the basilica.
During his homily, Francis emphasized that the Holy Year serves as a chance to ease the debts of impoverished nations and to advocate for environmental protection. He conveyed that the Jubilee’s purpose is to “bring hope to the endless, joyless days of inmates, to the cold and bleak shelters of the destitute, and to all those areas marred by conflict and violence.”
This ceremony marks the beginning of a Jubilee, a significant tradition celebrated once every 25 years where Catholics from around the world embark on pilgrimages to Rome.
The 2025 Jubilee is themed around hope, a message Francis plans to reinforce with a visit to Rebibbia prison on Thursday, where he will open a Holy Door to inspire hope in inmates for a brighter future. The pope has always had a close connection to prison ministry, frequently visiting Rebibbia and other correctional facilities as part of his pastoral outreach.
In light of heightened security measures around the Vatican following a recent Christmas market incident in Germany, visitors faced increased surveillance, including metal detectors and thorough security screenings to access St. Peter’s Square.
Having recently turned 88, Francis began the Christmas celebrations and the Jubilee launch with a minor cold that restricted his public appearances. However, he seemed in good spirits during the Tuesday night ceremony. Concerns about his health persist, particularly as he has a history of bronchitis, which may pose a challenge with the demanding schedule planned for the Holy Year.
One of the event’s prominent highlights will be the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a teenage internet pioneer recognized as the first saint of the millennial generation, which is scheduled during the Jubilee focused on youth in April.
This week will also see Francis delivering his annual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day. Alongside this, he is set to host New Year’s Eve vespers and a Mass on New Year’s Day.
As the Jubilee approaches, there is some concern in Rome regarding the city’s readiness to handle the influx of visitors. Over the past two years, extensive renovations on vital infrastructure such as transportation and hospital emergency services have been underway, testing the patience of local residents.
Currently, only about a third of the 323 ongoing projects have reached completion, and the city is already feeling the strain of overtourism. Post-COVID travel has seen an increase in visitors, intensifying a housing crisis exacerbated by the rise of short-term rental accommodations.
Recently, some of Rome’s well-known attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain, have reopened, and a major Jubilee project—a pedestrian plaza connecting Castel St. Angelo to the Via della Conciliazione leading to St. Peter’s Square—was unveiled just in time for the celebrations.
Vatican officials remain optimistic, asserting that Rome has a longstanding tradition of welcoming pilgrims and are highlighting the positive impact of previous Jubilees on the city’s urban and spiritual environments. Notable historical projects, such as the Sistine Chapel—commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV for the Jubilee of 1475—and a large garage built for the 2000 Jubilee under St. John Paul II, exemplify this tradition.
Pope Boniface VIII initiated the first Holy Year in 1300, and they are typically observed every 25 to 50 years. Participants can earn “indulgences” related to forgiveness of sins, akin to a “get out of Purgatory free” card.
In previous years, Francis proclaimed a special Jubilee centered around mercy from 2015-2016, with another planned for 2033 to honor the anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion. The last standard Jubilee took place in 2000, during which St. John Paul II marked the beginning of the third millennium for the church. The Jubilee prior to that, held in 1975, was particularly memorable as Pope Paul VI narrowly avoided being struck by falling plaster when he opened the Holy Door, which in those days was concealed behind a temporary wall.
