Rome is preparing for a Holy Year, which sees millions of pilgrims arrive in the city on a journey of self-reflection, renewal and gratitude.
The Rome Jubliee takes place every 25 years, and now, the incredible city has invested over £3 billion and has constructed more than a thousand sites for the one upcoming.
Pope Francis officially introduced the Holy Year when he pushed open the Holy Door of St.Peter’s Basilica this Christmas Eve.
The Dicastery for Evangelisation, which is in charge of organising the Jubliee, has estimated that 32 million pilgrims will pass through the city until 6 January 2026, when it ends.
Don Francesco Scalzotto, official of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, explained that the tradition is a people’s event that is a time of forgiveness of sins.
Dating back to the 1300s, the official added: “The event also recovers the ancient tradition of the biblical Jubilee, which was a time of liberation, peace and social bonds.”
Pope Boniface VIII was the one who established the first Jubilee, which has now become a regular event in the Catholic Church. While it is celebrated every quarter of a century, there are extraordinary Jubilees that take place for special occasions.
The special Jubliee was held in 2015, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second Vatican Council and it was dedicated to Mercy.
Next year, the Holy Year will be marked by Pope Francis. It’ll be his second ordinary Jubliee, and he has chosen the theme of hope, which he believes is of great significance to modern society.
Don Francesco Scalzotto said: “There is a great need for hope and this is the theme placed at the centre of the Jubliee journey: hope that is rooted first and foremost in the Lord who died and rose again for us and that might be lived out in a ‘contagious’ manner by all Christians”.
With all the preparation going on, the city will also be tightening up on security. The mayor has promised to add extra police officers and high-tech surveillance to keep pilgrims safe after concerns over attacks at European holiday markets.
The Holy Year will be packed with events throughout for everyone to enjoy. All information is available on the official Jubilee website, where pilgrims can register for events, create an account and receive a digital card, pilgrim card and QR code.