On Ascension Day 2024, the Jubilee Year was officially proclaimed. It was from St. Peter’s Basilica that the announcement was made through the papal bull.
POPE FRANCIS
I deliver to the archpriests of the papal basilicas, some representatives of the Church scattered throughout the world, and the apostolic protonotaries the bull, “Spes non confunit,” for the Jubilee of 2025.
Rome immediately began to tackle the urban challenge of getting the city ready. They started by restoring some of the most important monuments, such as the Trevi Fountain.
The city center filled with construction work.
The goal was to update the main and most heavily trafficked areas because the estimates of Jubilee visitors were striking. The estimated number of pilgrims for the Jubilee was 32 million, not counting the tourists.
The Vatican also got to work on projects ahead of the Holy Year. They organized major exhibitions like this one: The Christ of Saint John of the Cross, by Spanish painter Salvador Dalí.
From there, the countdown to the big moment began. On December 24, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and was the first to walk through it.
And so the Pope became the first official pilgrim of the Jubilee, and thousands followed after him. In fact, in just 15 days, half a million people had passed through the Holy Door.
But one of the most powerful moments of the Holy Year so far was this one: Pope Francis opening the Holy Door at Rebibbia prison. It was one of the many gestures Pope Francis chose to put focus on social issues.
POPE FRANCIS
The first Holy Door I opened was that of St. Peter's on the other night. The second Holy Door is this Basilica. Today the prison has become a “basilica” in quotes.
Many of these prisoners are not the big fish. The big fish have the cunning and stay out. And we must accompany the detainees.
Although Pope Francis was present at many Jubilee events, everything changed when he was hospitalized in February, 2025. He spent nearly five weeks in the hospital.
While Pope Francis could no longer be physically present, he would always designate cardinals read his homilies or sent greetings through written Angelus messages.
Following the death of Pope Francis and the election of the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV resumed attending Jubilee events. In fact, he held an audience in honor of the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches in the first week of his election.
POPE LEO XIV
Welcome to Rome. I am happy to see you and to dedicate one of the first meetings of my pontificate to the Eastern faithful.
And there will be many more of these Jubilee audiences throughout 2025. The Holy Year will conclude on January 6 of next year, when the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica is closed. It will be a powerful image: Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee, but it will be Pope Leo XIV who brings it to a close.
CA
Trans. CRT
