The Roman Jubilee 2025

The Roman Jubilee 2025 is the Holy Year convened by Pope Francis, a special time of grace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal that attracts millions of faithful to Rome from December 2024 to January 2026, with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica as the central act. During this period, pilgrims can cross the Holy Doors of the main basilicas, receive plenary indulgences, and participate in a wide program of religious ceremonies and pilgrimages organized by the Vatican under the motto “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Perhaps you have heard about the Holy Year in relation to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Camino de Santiago. As you may know, the Holy Year of Compostela is a very important celebration in Santiago de Compostela and throughout Christendom. However, of course, there is also the Roman Jubilee, the Holy Year in Rome. The Eternal City is the center of Christendom and the seat of the Pope, and after the "Great Jubilee" of the year 2000 and the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016, it will celebrate the next jubilee of the 21st century in 2025. Do you want to know what it is and what makes it special? ¡Keep reading!

What is the Jubilee of Rome?

The Jubilee is a special time in the Catholic Church. The Jubilee of Rome, or Roman Jubilee, which is celebrated in Rome, the center of the Catholic Church, has great spiritual significance for Catholics. During this celebration, pilgrims will be able to walk and travel to Rome to receive the special blessing of the Jubilee, pass through the Holy Door, and obtain indulgences.

In fact, pilgrims to Rome have a specific name: unlike the pilgrims who go to Santiago de Compostela, those who go to Rome are called romers. At the same time, the Roman Jubilee Year is also celebrated in Jerusalem, with those who go to the Holy Land being called palmers.

The Jubilee is a Catholic tradition that symbolizes forgiveness, mercy, and return to God. It is a moment of spiritual renewal, bringing together thousands of romers from around the world to celebrate faith and receive the blessing of the Church.

When will the Jubilee of Rome be in 2025?

The Roman Jubilee will be celebrated in the year 2025. Although the event calendar will take place throughout 2025, the Holy Year will begin in December 2024, as it does in Santiago de Compostela. This marks the start of a year filled with religious celebrations and reflection for all Catholics, which will conclude in January 2026, so you will have a full year to experience it up close if you decide to join the pilgrimage.

When will the Holy Door of the Jubilee 2025 open?

The Holy Door of Rome is a very important symbol of the Jubilee. This door is located in the Basilica of St. Peter, in the Vatican. Each time a Jubilee is celebrated, a special door is opened that symbolizes the Church's invitation to enter a time of forgiveness and renewal. Thus, the opening of the Holy Door of Rome will be on December 24, 2024, and it will close on January 6, 2026.

Originally, there was the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral and seat of the Bishop of Rome, the very Pope himself. But be aware, there are so many faithful who come to Rome to cross the Holy Door that other Basilicas in Rome decided to open their doors to provide spiritual service to so many pilgrims.

Therefore, currently, in Rome, not only one Holy Door will open, but several, between December 2024 and January 2025. Here are the different opening dates for the various holy doors:

• December 24, 2024: Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Peter.
• December 26, 2024: Opening of the Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison.
• December 29, 2024: Opening of the Holy Door of St. John Lateran.
• January 1, 2025: Opening of the Holy Door of St. Mary Major.
• January 5, 2025: Opening of the Holy Door of San Pablo Extramuros.

What is the Jubilee?

The Jubilee is more than just a religious event. It is a moment to celebrate God's mercy, faith, and the unity of the Catholic Church. During the Jubilee of Rome 2025, Catholics will be able to perform a series of religious and spiritual acts to obtain theplenary indulgence, which cleanses them of sins and brings them closer to God.

Those who go to Rome during this special year will be able to walk the Jubilee Way, a series of routes that lead them to sacred places in the city, as well as pilgrim to the seven highlighted churches of the city.

Jubilee Schedule and Calendar

Throughout 2025, there will be a series of religious events and celebrations, such as masses, prayers, processions, etc., as well as cultural acts such as conferences, international meetings, exhibitions, and concerts.

You should know that you must request a Pilgrim Card in order to register for the various celebrations, events, and activities. For example, it is necessary to access the different holy doors. Additionally, a special visa is provided so that pilgrims from all over the world can travel and attend this great celebration.

If you want to know more, we recommend that you visit the official website of the Roman Jubilee 2025.

History of the Roman Jubilee

The Jubilee, also known as the Holy Year, has its roots in Jewish tradition, where the "year of the yōbēl" (or "of the goat") was celebrated every 50 years with the sound of a horn, announcing the forgiveness of debts and the liberation of slaves.

In the Christian context, the first Jubilee was convened by Boniface VIII in 1300, and initially it was celebrated every 100 years. However, in 1343, Clement VI reduced the period to 50 years, and in 1470, Paul II set it every 25 years. In 1389, Urban VI attempted to establish a cycle of 33 years, in memory of the life of Christ, convening a Jubilee in 1390, although it was celebrated by Boniface IX after his death.

The last Jubilee of 50 years was convened by Nicholas V in 1450, before Paul II again reduced the cycle to 25 years. After the interruptions caused by the Napoleonic wars, the Jubilees resumed in 1875, following the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy, although without the traditional solemnity.

Other Jubilees

Additionally, as you know, the Jubilee is not only celebrated in Rome. Many other places in the world also celebrate their Jubilee Year, such as Santiago de Compostela and its Holy Jacobean Year. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting, among many others, the most well-known in Spain:

• Holy Jacobean Year of Gáldar: functions like the Holy Jacobean Year of Compostela, but in the temple of Santiago de Gáldar, on the island of Gran Canaria.
• Lebaniego Jubilee Year: is celebrated whenever April 16, the feast of Saint Toribio de Liébana, falls on a Sunday.
• Jubilee Year of Caravaca de la Cruz: has been celebrated every 7 years since 2003, although it existed prior to that.

The Roman Jubilee 2025 will be a unique occasion for Catholics around the world, marked by moments of faith, spiritual renewal, and unity. During this Holy Year, pilgrims will have the opportunity to experience a profound experience of forgiveness and reconciliation by passing through the holy doors of Rome, receive indulgences, and participate in a variety of religious and cultural events.

This Jubilee not only highlights the spiritual importance of Rome but also reminds us of the rich tradition of jubilees in Christian history, connecting the faithful with a legacy of centuries of devotion and pilgrimage.

And if you cannot go to Rome, do not worry, you have another alternative! The Cathedral of Santiago will also be a jubilee temple in 2025, which will also grant the plenary indulgence if, for example, you decide to reach Santiago by traveling along a Jacobean route. You decide, are you a pilgrim or a traveler?