PRESS RELEASE

Jubilee, half a million pilgrims have already crossed the Holy Door
of Saint Peter’s Basilica

(Vatican City) – Just two weeks after the solemn opening of the ordinary Jubilee 2025 last 24 December, 545,532 pilgrims from all over the world have already passed through the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. Hundreds of groups of faithful who have already completed their pilgrimage, starting from the new Piazza Pia, with the Jubilee cross in front of them and moving in prayer along Via della Conciliazione, up to the Basilica.

“It is a very significant beginning”, commented Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, responsible for the organization of the Jubilee, “with a great influx of people. The groups crowding Via della Conciliazione are bearing important witness, and this is a sign also of the great perception of security and protection the pilgrims are experiencing in the city of Rome and in the areas around the four papal Basilicas”. Indeed, close collaboration continues between the Holy See and the Dicastery with the Italian and Vatican security forces, and with the Prefecture of Rome.

Given the numbers of the first days, a steady increase in the influx of pilgrims is expected. “Certainly, in these first two weeks there have been some difficulties in the management of the flows which will need to be evaluated over time”, added Archbishop Fisichella, “but the Dicastery is working tirelessly to assure pilgrims of a welcome and an experience that lives up to their expectations”. Indeed, preparations are in full swing all over the world to reach Rome in the coming months, with many children, young people, adults and seniors who have already entered the Jubilee atmosphere, with the celebrations of the opening of the Holy Year held in all dioceses on 29 December 2024.

From 5 January, with the opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, the faithful will be able to pass through all four Holy Doors of the Roman papal Basilicas: besides that of Saint Paul, also the Door of Saint Peter in the Vatican, Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major. To carry out a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors, given the long lines of faithful, it is necessary to book in advance on the Jubilee website, iuilaeum2025.va. The great desire to participate in the Jubilee can be seen also from the thousands of people who filled the four papal Basilicas in the days of the celebrations for the opening of the Holy Doors, often also crowding the squares in front of them.

The first major event of the Holy Year will be the Jubilee of the world of Communication, from 24 to 26 January. For the occasion, thousands of journalists, experts and workers in the field of communication are expected to come from all over the world.

Press contacts:

Jubilee 2025 Office
Tel: 3351787134
Email: press@iubilaeum2025.va