The Vatican has confirmed that nearly 30 million pilgrims visited Rome during the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, making it one of the largest pilgrimages in Christian history and indicating renewed global interest in faith and Church celebrations. As the current Holy Year winds down, Catholic leaders are already preparing for the upcoming Jubilee of the Resurrection in 2033, which will commemorate 2,000 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
An Unprecedented Year of Pilgrimage
According to Vatican officials, by late October and early November 2025, approximately 30 million people have crossed the threshold of St. Peter’s Basilica. Rome has once again become the epicenter of Christian pilgrimage, with vast crowds filling both historic and humble spaces throughout the city. The faithful have gathered from across the world, united by hope and spirituality during this specially designated Holy Year.
As 2025 draws to a close, the Jubilee’s calendar is highlighted by three significant events. November 22 will see the Jubilee of Choirs, filling Vatican spaces with sacred music. On November 26, the Jubilee of the Poor will put the spotlight on service and outreach to society’s most vulnerable, in line with the theme of hope. The year’s most poignant celebration, the Jubilee of Prisoners, will occur on December 14, focusing prayers and support on incarcerated individuals around the world.
Preparations Begin for the Jubilee of the Resurrection
With crowds still visiting Rome, Church leaders have already begun planning for 2033—the bimillennium of Christianity’s central mystery: the death and resurrection of Christ. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who has organized three Jubilees, has stressed that the scale and significance of this future commemoration demand years of global planning and coordination. The upcoming Jubilee will invite Christians worldwide to reflect on two millennia of faith and to rediscover the meaning and relevance of the Gospel in contemporary society.