Over half a million pilgrims flock to St. Peter’s Basilica for Jubilee Year 2025

Since the beginning of Jubilee Year 2025 on December 24, over half a million pilgrims have passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

According to a press statement released on Tuesday, January 7, a total of 545,532 pilgrims from around the world have made their way to Rome in the first two weeks, processing along Via della Conciliazione toward St. Peter's Basilica.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, described the number of pilgrims as a “very significant start” to the Jubilee Year.

The procession of pilgrims, led by the Jubilee Cross, offers a powerful witness of faith and unity.

Archbishop Fisichella also highlighted the sense of safety and security pilgrims feel in Rome, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Vatican, Italian authorities, and the Rome Prefecture.

With the opening of the final Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls on January 5, pilgrims can now complete their pilgrimage by passing through the Holy Doors of all four major papal basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

To manage the high demand, pilgrims are encouraged to book their visit in advance through the official Jubilee website, iubilaeum2025.va.

The first major event of the Jubilee Year, the Jubilee for Communication, will take place from January 24 to 26, with thousands of journalists, media experts, and communication professionals gathering in Rome.

The Vatican and Rome continue to prepare for the arrival of millions more pilgrims throughout the Jubilee Year.