Preparations Underway as 2025 Designated a Jubilee Year by Pope Francis

Pope Francis has designated 2025 a Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The last Jubilee year was in 2015, considered an “extraordinary Jubilee year” as Jubilees normally take place every 25 years. That extraordinary year was dedicated to mercy, a central theme of Francis pontificate. A Jubilee year normally begins just before Christmas and ends at the Epiphany of the following year. Special rites include the opening of the Holy Door—actually doors on the four major basilicas of Rome with St. Peter’s Basilica the first to be opened.

In 2025, the door of St. Peter’s will be opened on December 24. Days throughout the year have been specified for particular celebrations such as January 24-26 as “Jubilee of World Day of Communications”; July 28-August 3 as “Jubilee of the Youth”; October 8-9 as “Jubilee of Consecrated Life”; December 14 as “Jubilee of Prisoners.” The door of St. Peter’s basilica will be sealed up in January 2026. A full calendar of events can be found at: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/pellegrinaggio/calendario-giubileo.html

Jubilees have biblical roots, as the Mosaic era established jubilee years to be held every 50 years for the freeing of slaves and forgiveness of debts as manifestations of God's mercy. The practice was re-established in 1300 by Boniface VIII. (It was Pope Boniface VIII who removed the Council of Lyon’s restrictions on the Order. We were now approved unconditionally.) Pilgrims to Rome were granted a plenary indulgence. Between 1300 and 2000, 29 jubilee years were held in Rome.

The city of Rome has been spending the last few years preparing for expected large crowds. Some 35 million people are expected throughout the year. (An estimated 20.4 million people participated in the 2015 Jubilee in Rome.) Rome has allocated approximately $2.5 billion for 87 public works projects, though people suspect this figure will almost double to $4.3 billion.

Among project are plans to improve public transport and public bathroom facilities, repave roads, build underground parking and pedestrian underpasses, and clean up the area around the city’s main train station, Termini.

Major construction is taking place in various parts of the city, including the Coloseum and Piazza Venezia, as a new line of the metro is added. A pedestrian mall, with an underground passageway, is being constructed between Castel San Angelo and Via Conciliazione to separate vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

Joan Lewis, the author of the book A Holy Year in Rome: The Complete Pilgrim’s Guide for the Jubilee of Mercy is quoted as saying “Be prepared for crowds. Bring patience along with your comfiest walking shoes.”

Official information about the Jubilee Year can be found at the Vatican website:  https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/giubileo-2025.html

Additional information can be found on this webite:  https://www.giubileo-2025.it/en/jubilee