Through the Holy Door: Communal Pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year
As part of the global celebrations for the Jubilee Year 2025, the Jesuits and staff at the General Curia in Rome went on a communal pilgrimage on 14 February 2025. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to join with the Church in this time of renewal and spiritual engagement.
The pilgrimage commenced at Piazza Pia, close to the Castel Sant’Angelo where a procession led by the Jubilee cross began. Participants walked towards St Peter’s Basilica, united in prayer and songs which had been selected for the occasion. Each step of the participants in the pilgrimage was a testimony of faith and devotion, reminding us that we are to be “Pilgrims of Hope”.
A key highlight of the pilgrimage was the procession through the Holy Door, a symbol of the Jubilee Year. This Holy door is traditionally sealed and is opened only during the Holy Years to signify a time of grace and reconciliation. In crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, pilgrims are reminded of the text in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John: “I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved; he will go in and out and find pasture.” Going through the Holy Door indicates the desire to follow and be guided by Jesus.
Towards the end of the pilgrimage, everyone, standing shoulder to shoulder, made a profession of faith – a poignant reminder of the truths that every member of the Catholic community shares and upholds. At the end, everyone received an official “testimonium” – a certificate attesting to the spiritual participation of pilgrims in the Jubilee.
The communal pilgrimage highlights the importance of faith, community and renewal during the Jubilee Year. The pilgrimage journey does not end here – rather, it is the beginning of a renewed effort to living out our faith in tangible ways, embodying the spirit of the Jubilee both in our hearts and in our actions.
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