Rome Jubilee 2025
What can we expect in Rome?
Rome Jubilee 2025
What can we expect in Rome?
Rome Jubilee 2025
What does this mean for your visit to Rome?
The motto for 2024 was: “Make Rome pretty for 2025”.
Rome was drowning in building sites. Sights were covered up and restored. Much to the annoyance of many tourists. What for, they wondered?
Now, every 25 years, the Holy Year / Jubilee is celebrated in Rome. The last Holy Year took place in 2000. And now it’s that time again. The pilgrims are in the starting blocks and will ‘overrun’ Rome. There are also the ‘normal’ tourists who come to Rome. So it’s going to be full!
Where and how should we start with this topic?
- Let’s take a brief look at the history and background.
- The programme – as far as is known
- And a few tips
So, let’s get started!
Brief background &
History of the Jubilee 2025
The Jubilee has been celebrated since 1300. Initially set at ‘every 100 years’, the time in between has been reduced to 50, 33 and now 25 years. The intervals became shorter and shorter so that every generation would be able to experience such a ‘jubilee year’.
What is being celebrated?
In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII introduced the feast around the Holy Year. However, just 43 years later, Pope Clement VI shortened the period by 50 years. Pope Urban VI then set the time between the jubilee years at 33 years – the age of Christ – as early as 1389. Since 1475, the Roman Catholic Church has celebrated this feast every 25 years.

The aim is to renew faith and deepen the relationship with God. At that time, it was possible to obtain a plenary indulgence and the forgiveness of all sins during this year. To achieve this goal, you have to make a pilgrimage to Rome and pass through the four holy gates: those of St Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore, St Paul Outside the Walls and St John Lateran. These holy gates are normally always closed. In 2025, however, they will all be open so that the pilgrims of 2025 can also pass through them.
Because even today, you can still obtain a ‘general remission’ of your sins! However, various rules must be observed in order to do so:
- You must make a pilgrimage to the Jubilee sites in Rome and pass through one of the Holy Doors.
- this only applies to believers who are baptised and not excommunicated
- are in the ‘state of grace’
- In concrete terms: you have to book a timeslot to pass through the gates! Under ‘Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors’, you must enter the date and time at which you would like to visit the respective gate.
- If you are unable to travel, you can still obtain an indulgence. Sick people and prisoners can unite spiritually with the pilgrims. Works of mercy such as visiting the elderly and sick and donating to charity are also possible.
This year’s motto is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and around 32 million pilgrims are expected!
The Holy Year
The programme
The year officially began at Christmas 2024, when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica. The other three gates were also opened in the days leading up to 6 January. The end of the Holy Year is on 6 January 2026 – when the gates will close again.
The ritual of opening the gates has existed since the 15th century and takes place on Christmas Eve. The Pope opens the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica with hammer blows and gives his blessing – then he walks through and the holy year begins. I didn’t hear the hammer blows this year, but Pope Francis drove through in his wheelchair, followed by bishops and families from various countries dressed in their traditional costumes.
The year will offer many events for the more than 30 million expected pilgrims.
Each month is dedicated to specific groups of people. For example:
Events for volunteers on 8 and 9 March
for people with disabilities on 28 and 29 April
for families on 30 May and 1 June
for young people on 28 July to 3 August
or for migrants on 4 and 5 October
A pilgrimage for LGBTQ people is also being considered and is expected to take place on 5 September.
There will even be a special event for digital missionaries and Catholic influencers on 28 and 29 July 🙂
There will also be many trade fairs, cultural and informative events and concerts for everyone.
Contact points for
Information on site & online
In Via della Conciliazione 7 there is a pilgrim centre where you can find information about the Holy Year.
The Vatican has also prepared a website in eight languages with all the plans and events for the Holy Year 2025: www.iubilaeum2025.va/de.html
You can also get your pilgrimage pass there and register to visit the gates!
Conclusion
We at Museos wish you a successful pilgrimage.
If that’s not why you’re coming to Rome, I wish you a great time too, of course.
However, it will be full in 2025, hotels will probably be booked out quickly, as will tickets for museums and sights. Keep that in mind and book your tickets online in advance!
Yours, Céline
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2025
Screenshots of the opening of the gates, Vatican News
Screenshot of the pilgrimage pass, iubilaeum2025 website