2025 Jubilee Pilgrimages: Pilgrims of Hope
Jubilee Year 2025 – A Time of Hope and Renewal
Jubilee Year 2025 created great excitement among the faithful worldwide. Making a 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Vatican City was the dream of many Catholics. Adopting the motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” Pope Francis sought to restore a climate of hope and trust — leading to renewal and rebirth as Catholics around the world came together in faith.
Thousands of pilgrims traveled with NAWAS to Rome and throughout Italy, walked through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s, and received a Plenary Indulgence. It was a profound year of grace, reflection, and community.
In his letter announcing the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis said:
We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision
What is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year, rooted in the Old Testament, is a special year of grace called by the Holy Father. It offers the faithful the chance to seek a plenary indulgence for the remission of sins and to receive blessing and universal pardon. Since 1300, under Pope Boniface VIII, the church has declared jubilee years every 25 or 50 years.
There have also been several special, or extraordinary, Jubilee Years — most recently the 2016 Year of Mercy and the 2013 Year of Faith. Significantly, the 2025 Year of Hope in Rome marks the first ordinary Jubilee since the Great Jubilee in 2000 under Pope John Paul II.
The Opening of The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica
The Jubilee Year of Hope officially began on December 24, 2024, when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. This symbolic act represented God opening a new pathway to salvation, mercy, and grace. These beautifully sculpted doors were the first to be opened during the holy year. Next to open were the Holy Doors of the other three major basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, and St. John Lateran, as well as Holy Doors at basilicas around the world.
The Holy Doors will remain open for pilgrims to walk through and receive the Jubilee indulgence until the celebration concludes on the Feast of the Epiphany in January 2026.
Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica credit Dnalor_01-Wikimedia-Commons
Pilgrimages During 2025 Jubilee Year
Jubilee Years are meaningful times for the Faithful to make a pilgrimage to a sacred site such as Rome to obtain forgiveness for their sins. Traditionally, these Holy Years include special celebrations, calls for repentance, and the chance to receive God’s grace, usually through the sacraments, and most importantly confession.
Receiving the Plenary Indulgence
As in other Holy Years, 2025 offered Catholics the opportunity to receive a Plenary Indulgence, a time of reconciliation and deepened faith. To receive the indulgence, pilgrims were called to:
Visiting the Best of Rome and Italy
NAWAS pilgrims renewed their faith and deepened their sense of hope on special 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimages to Rome and Italy. It was a beautiful way to open their hearts, receive God’s indulgence, and rediscover His mercy.
On NAWAS’ Italy Pilgrimages, travelers visited the most important shrines of our faith including:
- Eternal Rome and the four major basilicas: St. Peters, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major
- An Audience with the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis
Some programs also included Florence and Venice, as well as the Holy Land. As always, pilgrims could join one of NAWAS’ inspiring Jubilee Year pilgrimages or customize their own.
Mass Scheduled Daily
Mass was at the heart of every NAWAS pilgrimage. We scheduled daily Mass and offered time for personal prayer and reflection throughout each journey — ensuring the 2025 Jubilee Year was a truly spiritual and memorable experience for all who participated.
Our featured 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimages to Rome and Italy
Below is our selection of 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimages to Rome, Vatican City, and Italy.
9 Days Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi
Spend seven nights in Rome, where you will celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. Visit the four major basilicas and attend an Audience with the Pope … tour Vatican City and visit “ancient Rome” including the Catacombs … and take an excursion to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis.
9 Days Rome, Florence & Assisi
Explore Florence … spend two nights in St. Francis’ town of Assisi … on to Eternal Rome where you will attend a Papal Audience and celebrate the Holy Jubilee Year of Hope … tour Vatican City and see Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel … and explore the mysterious Catacombs.
11 Days Italy Pilgrimage
Our most popular pilgrimage. Celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope as you see the best of Rome and Italy. Discover the winding canals of Venice … see the Renaissance art treasures of Florence … visit Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis … enjoy four nights in Rome and visit the four major Basilicas … attend a Papal Audience.
11 Days Italy & Amalfi Pilgrimage
On this inspiring pilgrimage, you’ll honor the Holy Jubilee Year of Hope and visit Florence … the resort town of Sorrento … marvel at the sheer cliffs and pastel villages along the Amalfi Coast … see the amazing excavations at Pompeii and the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino…then enjoy four nights in Eternal Rome plus an Audience with the Pope.
11 Days Italy with San Giovanni
Witness the Renaissance artistry of Florence … discover the spiritual aura of Assisi … bask in the sacred atmosphere of San Giovanni Rotondo, the resting place of Padre Pio…celebrate the Year of Hope in Rome … walk through the Holy Doors of the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica and attend a Papal Audience.
11 Days Treasures of Italy
Begin in beautiful Florence … visit Assisi, home to the breathtaking Basilica of St. Francis … experience the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano, then explore the spiritual haven of San Giovanni Rotondo and the historic Monte Cassino Abbey …explore scenic Sorrento and the stunning Amalfi Coast … end in Eternal Rome.
11 Days Lourdes & Italy Pilgrimage
A special Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to France and Italy. Pray in Lourdes where Mary appeared … see Avignon and the old Papal Palace … tour Nice on the French Riviera … see the Renaissance artworks of Florence … visit St. Francis’ town of Assisi … and spend three nights in Eternal Rome.
11 Days Sicily, Sorrento & Rome
Discover the fascinating isle of Sicily where St. Paul preached … visit Palermo, the capital … Agrigento, site of the Valley of the Temples … Siracusa, which once rivaled Athens … scenic Taormina … on Italy’s mainland tour Sorrento … see the amazing excavations at Pompeii … enjoy three nights in Rome where you will honor the Jubilee Year.
11 Days Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Rome
Follow Jesus’ steps in the Holy Land and visit Rome for the Jubilee Year. Cruise the Sea of Galilee … climb the Mount of Olives … visit Tabgha … the Mount of Beatitudes … walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre … stroll in the Garden of Gethsemane … visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity … in Rome, attend a Papal Audience and visit the four major basilicas.
11 Days Greece & Rome Pilgrimage
Celebrate the Holy Jubilee Year and discover the fascinating isle of Sicily where St. Paul preached … visit Palermo … Agrigento, the site of the Valley of the Temples … Siracusa, which once rivaled Athens … scenic Taormina … on Italy’s mainland tour Sorrento and Pompeii … enjoy three nights in Rome and a Papal Audience.