Jubilee 2025

For Pope Leo’s first audience, more than 1,800 came, and since then pilgrims have continued to come in larger numbers than ever.”

Pope Leo spoke to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Jan. 9.

Last-minute visitors did not let Rome’s infamous winter deluges and damp stop them from their goal: to pray and pass through to the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica.

While the last of the Holy Doors in the city was closing, “the gate” of God’s mercy will never be shut, Pope Leo said before shutting the door.

“Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, aware that in his presence nothing stays the same.”

An estimated 33 million visitors and pilgrims came to the Vatican to celebrate the Jubilee Year, exceeding early forecasts, officials said.

As the church marks the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope of two popes, Catholics are reflecting on how that theme took on new meaning.

The tenacious hope of people of faith, believing in a better tomorrow, keeps God’s plan of salvation alive in the world, Pope Leo XIV said.

Christians should take a moment to remember all God’s blessings of the past year and to reflect honestly on how they responded to those graces, Pope Leo said.

Close to 3 million pilgrims and visitors attended audiences, liturgies or meetings at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV from the time of his election in May through December, according …