On December 24, 2024, with the solemn opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee of 2025. Since then, Rome has been transformed into a great crossroads of pilgrims, tourists, volunteers, and workers, becoming the beating heart of an event that is not only religious, but also cultural, social, and urban. It is time to take stock and look ahead to what awaits us until the closing of the Holy Door on January 6, 2026.
A beginning marked by great participation
The first weeks highlighted the powerful appeal of this Holy Year: St. Peter’s Square overflowing with faithful from around the world, and a city welcoming millions of visitors. After the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s, the subsequent openings of the other three papal basilicas — St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — symbolically marked the start of the Jubilee pilgrimage.
Among the most memorable moments was undoubtedly the Youth Jubilee, held during the summer: more than one million young people from 140 countries filled Rome with songs, flags, prayers, and cultural exchanges. It was an important test for the organizational machinery, tasked with handling massive crowds without paralyzing the city.
Events for everyone: from volunteers to prisoners
The Jubilee calendar has been designed to embrace all aspects of society. Not only major religious gatherings, but also days dedicated to volunteers, the sick, artists, law enforcement, as well as the poor and prisoners. A choice that reflects the motto of this Holy Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”: no one should feel excluded, and every social group finds a moment to be at the center.
In the coming weeks, attention will focus on some particularly anticipated events: the Jubilee of the Poor, the Jubilee of Choirs, and the Jubilee of Prisoners. These occasions, alongside their spiritual dimension, also offer collective moments of reflection on issues such as solidarity, inclusion, and human dignity.
Rome between construction sites and hospitality
The Jubilee is not only about religious celebrations. It is also an opportunity for urban transformation. For this Holy Year, the city administration and the government allocated nearly two billion euros for projects ranging from road maintenance to public lighting, from the restyling of squares to mobility infrastructure. Not everything is running smoothly: some construction sites have slowed traffic, and the schedule is tight. But the message is clear: the Jubilee must leave Rome with a tangible legacy of improved infrastructure and more efficient services.
Alongside the physical works is hospitality. Parishes, schools, gyms, and families have mobilized to host pilgrims, especially during large gatherings such as the Youth Jubilee. This model of widespread hospitality highlights the city’s community spirit and helps ease the burden on hotels and accommodations.
Culture and spirituality hand in hand
Rome has not forgotten its cultural vocation. Alongside liturgical celebrations, museums, exhibitions, and artistic events offer parallel itineraries that tell the story of the city and its heritage. From the Vittoriano to the Vatican Museums, from smaller churches to the streets of working-class neighborhoods, the Jubilee is also an aesthetic and cultural journey.
Awaiting the closing of the Holy Door
The Jubilee path will culminate on January 6, 2026, with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s, the rite that will officially mark the end of the Holy Year. Until then, Rome will continue to serve as a living laboratory of spirituality, culture, and urban innovation. The challenge is twofold: to keep organizational standards high while ensuring that the fruits of this effort remain with the city long after the event.
A provisional assessment
If we were to make an assessment today, Jubilee 2025 appears as a technically successful event which, aside from the Youth Jubilee, has not yet reached the level of participation that was expected. Logistical difficulties and pressure on infrastructure and services remain, but the atmosphere so far has been one of a Rome that — despite construction, challenges, and complexity — is eager to welcome the world and prove itself worthy of an appointment that marks its history, and of the major events it hopes to host in the future.
