Vatican: This is how many Holy Year pilgrims have come to Rome so far

So far, around 24 million people have travelled to Rome for the Holy Year. This was announced by the responsible Vatican authority on Wednesday. The Vatican and the city of Rome are expecting at least 30 million pilgrims for the Catholic Jubilee Year, which takes place every 25 years. Pope Francis (2013-2025) opened the largest Catholic pilgrimage event on Christmas Eve 2024; Pope Leo XIV will close the year on 6 January 2026.

The central elements of the Holy Years are the pilgrimage to Rome, the Holy Door, which is only open during this time, and an indulgence, i.e. a remission of the penance imposed in confession after being forgiven for one's sins. The ritual involves visiting certain churches in Rome. Today there are eight places of pilgrimage, including St Peter's Basilica, St John Lateran Basilica, St Mary Major Basilica and the catacombs.

The motto of the current Giubileo is "Pilgrims of Hope". During this period, the Vatican is organising numerous special events for different target groups. The largest special event to date was the International World Youth Meeting, which was attended by over one million people at the beginning of August. (KNA)