Jesuit Superiors mark Jubilee of Hope with Pilgrimage through Holy Door
The scene was prayerful... the soft light towards the end of day in autumn as the sun dipped, a cool breeze, over 100 Jesuits walking together in a prayerful procession, reciting psalms, singing in unison...
In the evening of 19 October, the participants at the Meeting of Major Superiors gathered as pilgrims in a spiritual moment woven into the program of the 10-day meeting. These men, entrusted with the care of Provinces and Regions within the Society of Jesus, paused from deliberations and reflections to embody the very theme that Pope Francis has called the Church to rediscover throughout this year: Christian hope that does not disappoint.
Led by the Jubilee cross, the procession moved slowly and prayerfully from Rome’s Piazza Pia through the street leading to St Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Door of the Basilica, opened only in Jubilee Years, stood before them as both a literal and spiritual threshold – an invitation to renewal, reconciliation, and recommitment to mission. The procession itself echoed the ancient tradition of pilgrimage that has long marked the Catholic journey of faith.
At the threshold of the Basilica, each Superior crossed individually, stepping through the Holy Door with reverence. Inside, they assembled before the main altar where they recited the Credo together. They then concluded the pilgrimage in front of the Basilica by jointly reciting the official Jubilee Year prayer.
The pilgrimage brought the global character of the Society of Jesus to the fore. These Superiors hail from every continent, representing a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and experiences. Yet, in this moment, they were united – not by geography or governance, but by a shared vocation and a common hope.
For some of them, it was the first opportunity to go through the Holy Door in the Vatican during the Jubilee Year. For others who had had the opportunity to do so before, it was a renewal of their Christian commitment. In all, the pilgrimage was a collective act of devotion that nourished each participant. The act of walking together, of crossing the Holy Door side by side becomes a metaphor for the Jesuit mission: to be pilgrims of hope in a world yearning for healing.
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