The Vessel’s Transformation

Built in 1931, the “Amerigo Vespucci” is renowned as both a naval training ship and an ambassador of Italian heritage. Since mid-2023, it has been circumnavigating the globe, making stops in cities across all five continents. Now, it takes on an additional role: a floating sanctuary where acts of devotion, reflection, and prayer will take place.

“This Jubilee Year calls for hope,” Archbishop Marcianò stated during the ship’s designation ceremony. “And what better symbol of hope than a vessel that bridges cultures and faiths while carrying the message of peace across the world?”

Unlike traditional churches and sanctuaries, the “Amerigo Vespucci” offers an unconventional yet deeply symbolic space for spiritual renewal. Pilgrims who visit the ship during its scheduled stops through December 2025 can participate in mass, guided by Catholic chaplains who have long been part of the ship’s crew. These chaplains, Archbishop Marcianò noted, “have silently but effectively nurtured the spiritual life of sailors, and now extend their mission to pilgrims worldwide.”

The ship’s Jubilee designation aligns with broader themes of pilgrimage and penance that define the Holy Year. Catholics seeking a plenary indulgence can do so through various acts: visiting a designated sacred site, praying in Roman churches, performing works of mercy, or even fasting from social media. The “Amerigo Vespucci” now joins a list of extraordinary locations, blending naval heritage with spiritual significance.

A Message of Forgiveness and Peace

Archbishop Marcianò inaugurated the Holy Year for the Italian Military Ordinariate with a poignant reminder of the transformative power of forgiveness. Speaking from the Church of Santa Maria Capua Vetere near Naples, he emphasized that reconciliation is at the heart of a culture of peace.

“Forgiving others often begins with forgiving ourselves,” he said, drawing parallels between the physical journeys undertaken by military personnel and the spiritual pilgrimage of faith. He encouraged the faithful to view the Jubilee as a time for deepening their communion with God and strengthening their resolve to serve justice and peace.

A Network of Jubilee Sites and Jubilee of Armed Forces and Police

The “Amerigo Vespucci” joins a network of Jubilee sites designated for the Italian Military Ordinariate, including the Church of Santa Caterina da Siena in Rome, the Military Hospital Chapel at Celio, and the penitentiary chapel in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. International peacekeeping missions and naval bases will also host sacred celebrations, underscoring the global reach of the Jubilee.

A key highlight of the Holy Year will be the Jubilee of the Armed Forces and Police, scheduled for February 8–9, 2025, in Rome. Military personnel from across the globe will gather for a celebration of unity and faith. Events will include a welcoming ceremony in one of Rome’s iconic squares, a concert featuring military bands, and a pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, culminating in a papal Mass.  Leading up to the event, European Military Ordinaries will convene to discuss common challenges and share insights on integrating faith into service.

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A Jubilee Gesture with Global Implications

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared on January 14 that the release would occur «in the spirit of the Jubilee Ordinario of 2025 declared by His Holiness.» The government framed the decision as the result of a «thorough legal and humanitarian analysis,» though it withheld details about the identities of the prisoners to be freed.

This action coincides with Pope Francis’s formal invitation to governments worldwide to enact amnesty or pardon measures as part of the Jubilee Year’s emphasis on renewal and mercy. In his official proclamation for the Jubilee, the Pope also highlighted the need for reintegration programs for those in prison, a sentiment mirrored in Cuba’s initiative.

A Broader Landscape of Change

The announcement came on the same day the U.S. government revealed a policy shift that included removing Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and easing certain restrictions on the island nation. While the Cuban government did not explicitly link its prisoner release to these U.S. measures, both actions reflect a renewed focus on fostering dialogue and improving living conditions for the Cuban people.

The White House acknowledged the Catholic Church’s critical role in brokering these developments, stating, “We recognize the Church’s efforts under Pope Francis’s leadership to encourage Cuba to adopt constructive measures for freedom and dignity.”

Vatican Endorsement of Hope and Renewal

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, praised Cuba’s decision as a “significant act of hope” at the dawn of the Jubilee Year. He also noted other recent positive developments, including the U.S. commutation of federal death sentences and Zimbabwe’s abolition of the death penalty. “We hope 2025 brings more encouraging news, particularly with ceasefires for ongoing conflicts,” Cardinal Parolin added, framing these gestures as a collective movement toward global reconciliation.

A History of Papal Advocacy

The release of prisoners in Cuba builds upon years of behind-the-scenes diplomacy facilitated by the Vatican. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop emeritus of Boston, shared that he had carried personal messages from Pope Francis to leaders in the U.S. and Cuba advocating for prisoner releases and improved bilateral relations. “In the spirit of the Jubilee, I welcome these measures, which for years seemed unattainable,” O’Malley wrote on January 14.

The Pope’s direct involvement has been a recurring theme in Cuba’s evolving relationship with the Vatican. From high-level discussions with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to symbolic acts such as opening the Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison, Francis has consistently championed the dignity of the incarcerated.

 A Jubilee of Prisoners

Looking ahead, the Jubilee Year will culminate in the “Jubilee of Prisoners” event in December 2025. This extraordinary gathering will bring inmates from around the world to St. Peter’s Basilica for a Mass with the Pope.

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The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household has provided a website with the updated schedule of the Pope’s audiences—including the regular Wednesday audiences and the extraordinary Saturday ones—available at this link: https://eventi.pontificalisdomus.va/.

We now offer the English translation of the Pope’s address.

***

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Many of you are here in Rome as “pilgrims of hope”. This morning, we are starting the Saturday Jubilee audiences, which will ideally welcome and embrace all those who are coming from all over the world in search of a new beginning. Indeed, the Jubilee is a new beginning, the possibility for everyone to start anew from God. With the Jubilee we start a new life, a new phase.

On these Saturdays I would like to highlight, from time to time, some aspects of hope. It is a theological virtue, the Catechism tells us. And in Latin, virtus means “strength”; thus, it is a strength that comes from God. Hope, therefore, is not a habit or a character trait – that you either have or you don’t – but a strength to be asked for. That is why we make ourselves pilgrims: we come to ask for a gift, to start again on life’s journey.

We are about to celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, and this makes us think about that great prophet of hope, John the Baptist. Jesus said something wonderful about him: that he is the greatest among those born of women (cf. Lk 7:28). We understand then why so many people flocked to him, longing for a new beginning, longing to start over. And the Jubilee helps us in this. The Baptist appeared truly great, he appeared credible in his personality. Just as we today pass through the Holy Door, so John proposed to cross the river Jordan, entering the Promised Land as Joshua had done the first time. To begin again, to receive the land all over again, like the first time. Sisters and brothers, this is the word: begin again. Let us put this in our heads and let us all say together: “begin again”. Let us say it together: begin again! [all repeat several times] There, don’t forget this: begin again.

Jesus, however, immediately after that great compliment, adds something that makes us think: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (v. 28). Hope, brothers and sisters, is everything in this qualitative step. It does not depend on us, but on the Kingdom of God. Here is the surprise: welcoming the Kingdom of God leads us to a new order of greatness. Our world, all of us, we need this! And us, what must we do? [Everyone: “Begin again!”]. Do not forget this.

When Jesus utters those words, the Baptist is in jail, full of questions. We too bring many questions on our pilgrimage, because there are many “Herods” who still oppose the Kingdom of God. Jesus, however, shows us the new path, the path of the Beatitudes, which are the surprising law of the Gospel. Let us ask ourselves, then: do I have within me a true desire to start again? Think about it, each one of you: inside myself, do I want to begin again? Do I want to learn from Jesus who is truly great? The least, in the Kingdom of God, is great. Because we must … [Everyone: “Begin again!”].

From John the Baptist, then, we learn to recreate ourselves. Hope for our common home – this Earth of ours, so abused and wounded – and the hope for all human beings resides in the difference of God. His greatness is different. And let us start again from this originality of God, which shone in Jesus and which now binds us to serve, to love fraternally, to acknowledge ourselves as small. And to see the least, to listen to them and to be their voice. Here is the new beginning, our Jubilee. And so we must… [Everyone: “Begin again!”].

Thank you.

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“It is a very significant beginning, with a great affluence of people,” said Monsignor Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who has been entrusted with the organization of the Jubilee. The groups crowding the Via della Conciliazione are giving an important testimony, and this is also a sign of the great perception of security and protection that the pilgrims are experiencing in the city of Rome and around the four Papal Basilicas.” In fact, the close collaboration of the Holy See and the Dicastery continues with the Italian and Vatican Security Forces, as well as with Rome’s Prefecture..

Given the figures of the first days, a constant increase is expected in the number of pilgrims. “Of course, in these first two weeks there have been some difficulties in the management of the flow, which will have to be evaluated over time,” added Monsignor Fisichella, “but the Dicastery is working tirelessly to guarantee a welcome to pilgrims and an experience that lives up to their expectations.” Preparations are taking place throughout the world to arrive in Rome in the coming months, with many children, young people, adults and elderly that have already entered the Jubilee ambience with the celebrations of the opening of the Holy Year, which took place in all dioceses worldwide on December 29, 2024.

Since January 5, with the opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the faithful can cross the four Holy Doors of the Roman Papal Basilicas, in addition to that of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, those of Saint Peter, Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major in the Vatican. Given the long lines of faithful pilgrimaging to the Holy Doors, it is necessary to make reservations ahead of time in the Jubilee Webpage iubilaeum2025.va. The great desire of thousands of people to participate in the Jubilee was also made visible in the thousands that filled the four Papal Basilicas on the days of celebrations for the opening of the Holy Doors, who also often crowded the Squares in from of the Basilicas.

The first great event of the Holy Year will be the Jubilee of the World of Communication, from January 24 to 26. The presence is expected  of thousands of journalists, experts and workers in the media worldwide. A Mass is planned for communicators on January 26, presided over by Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

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Especially during the Christmas period, these splendid churches offered a unique framework to live the most significant moments of the celebrations, be it a Solemn Midnight Mass, a representation of the Nativity or the New Year’s Eve service. According to Istat, one out of every five Italians attends the Christmas Mass, which converts these churches during the celebrations not only into places of contemplation, but also of communion and coexistence. Hence, they are very recommended for those wishing to live fully the Christmas spirit.

The Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is Italy’s Most Beautiful Place of Worship 

87% of the visitors to the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore gave five starts to their experience. Often known as Milan’s “Sistine Chapel, this church is enchanting for its extraordinary frescoes, representing biblical scenes and historical events, as well as its beautiful Medieval objects, which date back to the time it was a convent in the 16th century. Its magnificence makes it the city’s most fascinating church, an ideal place to spend Christmas Eve, be it by attending Midnight Mass or simply soaking in the pervasive festive atmosphere.

The Church of Saints Philip and James: The Jewel of Spaccanapoli

The church of Saints Philip and James, located in the heart of Spaccanapoli in Naples, is the second most popular church in Italy, with 86% of visitors valuating it positively. This church, which also houses a fascinating silk art museum, is animated by an active and committed community, which organizes an important number of social and cultural events throughout the year. During the Christmas period in particular, the parish enchants visitors with a finely designed Nativity Scene and Masses that capture fully the Christmas spirit.

Rome’s Most Beautiful Church

The Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran, which dates back to the year 313, is considered the world’s first church and is, therefore, the Pope’s official Cathedral, representing Christendom’s most important church. Its imposing exterior and magnificent interior captivate visitors’ attention, offering a spectacle of extraordinary beauty. During the Christmas period, the church becomes the beating heart of the Catholic faith, offering festive Masses that invite to spiritual reflection and contemplation.

Padua and Palermo: Two Churches in the Top Ten

Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel is famous for its extraordinary Giotto frescoes, whose conservation is of utmost importance. In order to protect these delicate works, all visitors must pass through a lock that regulates the temperature and humidity. Declared by UNESCO Patrimony of Humanity, the Chapel is one of the three most popular churches in Italy. It’s serene atmosphere makes it an ideal place for contemplation, especially during the Christmas period.

Palermo’s Church of Jesus is one of the most magnificent Baroque churches of Sicily and a point of reference for local Jesuits’ works of charity. During the Christmas period, their community’s warm welcome is translated in a festive program that touches profoundly the heart of visitors.

Padua and Palermo are the only cities that have two churches among the first ten on the list, an impressive testimony of their cultural and spiritual richness, which is expressed especially intensely during the Christmas celebrations.

30 Reasons to Visit a Church

Italy’s 30 most beautiful churches are a reflection of the country’s rich history and vibrant tradition. They have inspired generations of people and continue to be places of encounter and exchange. Especially during the Christmas period, these churches reveal a special enchantment: including festive Masses, set Nativity scenes and concerts, these places of worship offer a unique experience to live the magic of the celebrations. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, these churches welcome all visitors, inviting them to submerge themselves in the Christmas atmosphere and to discover the extraordinary cultural history that characterizes Italy.

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The inaugural procession was led by the Pope himself, followed by the first group of 50 pilgrims who crossed the threshold immediately after the opening ritual. By Christmas Day, approximately 35,000 pilgrims had already traversed the Holy Door, an enduring symbol of grace and redemption, according to data reported by the Dicastery for Evangelization.

A Pilgrimage Like No Other

For those planning to experience the transformative journey of the Holy Door pilgrimage, organization is key. The Vatican has streamlined the process, allowing individuals and groups to register online through the official Jubilee portal. This platform not only facilitates sign-ups but also provides participants with a unique QR-coded Pilgrim Card, essential for accessing the Holy Door.

Each registered group is assigned a specific date and time for their pilgrimage, starting from Piazza Pia, near the Vatican. Accompanied by the official Jubilee Cross, pilgrims make their way to St. Peter’s Basilica, adding a communal and symbolic dimension to the journey.

The Holy Door: A Symbol of Grace

The tradition of opening the Holy Door during Jubilee Years dates back to the 15th century. It signifies an extraordinary period when Catholics can receive plenary indulgences by fulfilling specific spiritual conditions. The act of crossing the Holy Door is both a physical and spiritual passage, inviting believers to leave behind the burdens of sin and embrace a renewed relationship with their faith.

This Jubilee, Pope Francis has expanded the tradition by opening a fifth Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison, a move aimed at emphasizing hope and inclusion.

Joining the Global Pilgrimage

For those unable to travel to Rome, the Jubilee extends beyond the city. Catholics worldwide can participate by visiting designated pilgrimage sites in their own dioceses, where indulgences and special events will be offered. The Jubilee portal also provides resources for virtual engagement, ensuring no one is excluded from the celebration.

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A City Bracing for Impact

The Jubilee Year, or Holy Year, is a deeply spiritual event that draws millions of pilgrims. Central to the celebration are the Holy Doors of Rome’s four major basilicas: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. For 2025, Pope Francis has introduced a fifth Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison, symbolizing hope and redemption even for those behind bars.

While the spiritual significance of the Jubilee is profound, the sheer volume of visitors presents logistical and safety challenges. The UK Foreign Office has flagged risks such as passport theft, spiked drinks, and vehicle break-ins. Tourists are reminded that Rome’s famous fountains are off-limits for bathing or wading—a misdemeanor that could result in fines.

The Pilgrim’s Guide to the Jubilee Year

Despite the cautions, the travel advisory isn’t all warnings. It provides practical resources for those planning to participate in the Jubilee festivities. Pilgrims are encouraged to download the official Jubilee app and obtain a free Digital Pilgrim Card, essential for accessing major events and planning visits to the Holy Doors.

The Vatican has also emphasized accessibility. Those unable to travel to Rome can still partake in the spiritual benefits by visiting designated Jubilee sites in their local dioceses, where indulgences and expanded opportunities for reconciliation will be available.

Jubilee’s Roots and Modern Innovations

The Jubilee tradition began in 1300 under Pope Boniface VIII and has since been celebrated roughly every 25 years. Historically linked to the remission of sins, the event is both a spiritual milestone and a logistical marvel. This year’s theme, outlined in Pope Francis’s papal bull “Spes Non Confundit” (“Hope Does Not Disappoint”), underscores the message of hope in uncertain times.

Pope Francis’s decision to add a Holy Door in a prison is a poignant modern touch. It invites the world to reflect on redemption, not just within sacred basilicas but also in places often associated with despair.

Rome Beyond the Jubilee

For travelers, Rome will offer an unforgettable blend of spiritual and cultural experiences in 2025. Alongside the religious events, the city’s art, history, and cuisine will be on full display, albeit amid bustling crowds. Visitors are advised to stay vigilant, plan their itineraries carefully, and embrace the unique energy of a city at the heart of a centuries-old tradition.

A Call for Caution and Celebration

As the UK government’s advisory highlights, preparation is key to navigating Rome during this unprecedented year. The Jubilee is a rare convergence of faith, history, and humanity—one that offers both inspiration and challenges. For the millions journeying to Rome in 2025, it promises to be a transformative experience, where caution and celebration go hand in hand.

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This unexpected turn has generated a series of questions that go beyond a simple issue of organization, sparking debates about the tensions between pastoral openness and doctrinal faithfulness.

An Event That Appeared, Disappeared and Might Reappear? 

The episode began when Christian LGBT associations, under the auspices of “Jonathan’s Tent,” announced that their pilgrimage had been included in the Jubilee’s official program. However, a few days later, the event disappeared from the calendar published on the event’s official site.

The Vatican’s explanations have not been altogether consistent. Agnese Palmussi, member of the Jubilee’s communication team, assured that the elimination was due to the lack of specific information by the organizers, such as the number of participants and logistical details. Nevertheless, the doubt remains: why was the event approved initially without this information? And, even more important, why was it not left pending rather than eliminating it?

A Debate That Goes Beyond The Logistics

The heart of the controversy doesn’t lie in the logistics, but in the symbolic and theological implications. The problem isn’t that LGBT people take part in the Jubilee events – a fact that doesn’t generate opposition – but that it is included officially in organizations that promote an LGBT identity narrative, which is incompatible with the Church’s traditional teaching on sexuality.

The presence of these associations poses fundamental questions about how the Vatican addresses the questions of sexual identity and orientation within the faith. Is it a gesture of pastoral openness to people that seek to reconcile their faith with their identity? Or is it a concession that could be interpreted as an implicit doctrinal change?

Internal Tensions and Critical Voices

According to sources close to the Vatican, the initial publication of the event unleashed significant tensions within the Curia, which led to its sudden elimination. This incident has highlighted the internal division about how to manage topics related to the LGBT community. For some, the initial inclusion represented a welcome gesture coherent with the spirit of Pope Francis’ pontificate. For others, it was a dangerous concession that diluted the traditional teaching.

What Next? 

Although the Vatican has tried to calm the waters, promising a possible reincorporation of the event after receiving the requested details, the debate is far from over. At stake is not only the organization of a calendar, but the more profound question about how the Church addresses the challenges of a changing world without compromising her theological foundations.

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While the vice-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, sought to frame this event as one among many within the broader Jubilee calendar, his message was clear: “All are welcome.” Vatican representatives have emphasized that the inclusion does not equate to sponsorship of specific events, reflecting a careful balancing act within the Church’s approach to contentious issues.

A Vision of Inclusion 

The initiative was spearheaded by “Tenda di Gionata” (Jonathan’s Tent), a group inspired by the late Don David Esposito, who envisioned Christian communities embracing Isaiah’s call to “enlarge the tent” to make room for all, especially those marginalized by discrimination. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has sought to foster spaces of welcome and support for LGBT individuals and their families within the Church.

This groundbreaking inclusion has reportedly received blessings not only from Pope Francis but also from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Their support has fueled both enthusiasm and skepticism, even as secular LGBT groups voice cautious optimism.

A Broader Conversation 

Gabriele Piazzoni, secretary-general of Arcigay, Italy’s largest LGBT advocacy group, celebrated the initiative as a step toward dismantling barriers to spiritual life for LGBTQIA+ individuals. However, others, such as Roberta Parigiani of the Trans Identity Movement, urged that this gesture go beyond symbolic acknowledgment, calling for consistent, everyday actions of inclusion.

Rosario Coco, president of Gaynet, extended a challenge to the Church: to leverage the Jubilee as an opportunity to clearly condemn conversion practices and global criminalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

A Spiritual Journey 

The program for the September 6 celebration includes an evening vigil, a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, and a Mass at the Church of the Gesù, a historic Jesuit site in central Rome that has long supported LGBT pastoral efforts. Families, pastoral workers, and members of rainbow associations will join in prayer and reflection.

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* * *

Immaculate Virgin,

Mother, Immaculate Mother,

today is your feast and we gather around you.

The flowers we offer you intend to express 

our love and gratitude;

but you see and appreciate above all those hidden flowers

that are the prayers, sighs, including tears,

especially the tears of the little ones and of the poor.

Look at them, Mother, look at them. 

Our Mother, Rome is preparing for a new Jubilee,

which will be a message of hope for humanity,

tested by crises and wars.

Therefore, there are works underway in all parts of the city:

this, you know, causes quite a few inconveniences,

but it is a sign that Rome is alive,

that Rome is being renewed, that Rome intends to adapt to the needs,

to be more welcoming and more functional.

But your Mother’s gaze sees beyond,

and it seems to me I hear her voice

that says to us wisely: ‘My children,

these works are well and good but, be careful:

do not forget the works of the soul!

The true Jubilee is within:

within, within your hearts, you say,

within family and social relationships.

It is within where we must work to prepare

the way of the Lord who is coming.

And it is a good occasion

to make a good Confession

and to ask pardon for all sins.

God forgives all, God forgives always.

Mary Immaculate, we thank you!

This recommendation of yours does us good,

we need it so much because, unintentionally,

we run the risk of remaining totally trapped

by organization, by the things we have to do,

and then the grace of the Holy Year,

which is a time of spiritual renewal, which is a time for forgiveness and of social liberation,

this grace of the Jubilee cannot have a happy outcome,

can remain somewhat suffocated.

But here the Mayor is preparing everything so that, this commemoration,

in this Holy Year, will have a good outcome. Let us pray for the Mayor who has so much work.

No doubt, Mary, you were present

in the synagogue of Nazareth

that day in which Jesus preached for the first time

to the people of His land.

He read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because He has anointed me to

preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release

to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are

oppressed.

To proclaim the acceptable year of

the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

Then He sat down and said: “Today this scripture has

been fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 22).

And You, Mother, were there, in the midst of the astonished people.

You were proud of Him, of your Son,

and, at the same time, you foresaw the drama

of the closure and envy, which generates violence.

You went through this drama

and always do so, with your Immaculate Heart

full of love of the Heart of Jesus.

Mother, free us of envy:

may we all be brothers who love one another.

No envy. Envy, that ugly yellow vice,

that ruins within. 

And today also, Mother, you repeat to us:

“Listen to Jesus, listen to Him!

Listen to Him and do whatever He tells you” (cf. John 2:5).

Thank you, Holy Mother! Thank you because in this time poor in hope, you still give us Jesus, our Hope. Thank you, Mother.

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