Rome's Big Year: A Record-Breaking Holy Pilgrimage

Rome saw a massive influx of visitors in 2025, with 33. 5 million people flocking to the city for the Catholic Holy Year. This event, known as a jubilee, happens every 25 years and is a time for reflection, forgiveness, and special religious practices. Pilgrims from 185 countries, including Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Poland, came to Rome to participate in unique religious activities, such as entering special "Holy Doors" at four major basilicas and attending special audiences with the pope. The Holy Year brought significant economic benefits to Rome, with tourist shops, museums, and restaurants seeing a boost in business. The city spent 3. 7 billion euros on improving tourist sites, a move that officials said was worth the investment. The jubilee also spurred a massive transformation of the city, with over 3, 200 construction projects, including a new underpass near the Vatican, updates to the subway system, and the restoration of the famous Trevi Fountain.However, the construction and increased tourism also caused some issues. Many residents were frustrated by the constant work happening around the city, and some visitors felt disappointed because many tourist attractions were hidden behind scaffolding for months. Additionally, the long-term rental market in Rome dried up as landlords sought to profit from short-term rentals for pilgrims. The 2025 Holy Year was also notable for being the first in 300 years to be opened by one pope, Francis, and closed by his successor, Leo. Francis passed away in April 2025 after 12 years as the leader of the Catholic Church, which has over 1. 4 billion members worldwide. While the Holy Year ended on Tuesday, many of the construction projects will continue beyond this date. There is also talk of a special Jubilee year in 2033 to mark 2, 000 years since the death of Jesus, which could include a joint pilgrimage by Christian leaders to Jerusalem.