Over 33 million pilgrims journeyed to Rome for the Jubilee Year, a testament to revived faith, civic coordination, and the spirit of hope renewed.
Newsroom (06/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) As the Jubilee Holy Year draws to a close and Pope Leo XIV prepares to seal the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican has revealed staggering figures that confirm what anyone walking Rome’s cobblestoned streets could already feel: the city became the beating heart of the world.
At a press conference on Monday, January 5, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Holy See’s chief organizer of the Jubilee, announced that nearly 33.5 million pilgrims from 185 countries came to Rome during the Holy Year. “The whole world came to Rome,” he said, underscoring how the turnout exceeded initial projections by Roma Tre University, which had estimated 31 million.
A Global Gathering of Faith
Europe dominated the flow of pilgrims, accounting for 62 percent of arrivals, with Italians leading the way. North America followed at 17 percent, driven largely by travelers from the United States. Spain, Brazil, and Poland rounded out the top five countries of origin. “This was not just a statistical success,” Archbishop Fisichella added. “It was a people in motion, seeking prayer, reconciliation, and renewal.”
Across the Eternal City, the signs of devotion were unmistakable. At the Holy Stairs, St. John Lateran, and the four Papal Basilicas, attendance reached record highs. Confession lines stretched long into the night. “The celebration of complete forgiveness—the indulgence—reached everyone,” Fisichella noted. But beyond numbers and processions, he emphasized the deeper meaning: “The Jubilee comes to an end, but the horizon widens to support a future filled with peace and serenity … to rekindle hope.”
Behind the Scenes: The “Jubilee Method”
This immense event was not only a triumph of faith but a logistical and civic feat. Local civil authorities worked hand-in-hand with Church institutions in what Italian officials praised as a new standard for governance: the so-called “Jubilee method.”
Alfredo Mantovano, Secretary of the Council of Ministers, described it as “a state administration that must coordinate, not direct” — a model of cooperation rather than competition. “We solved problems rather than created them,” Mantovano said. “Each party avoided claiming ownership of results that were the fruit of everyone’s work.”
Rome’s Mayor and Extraordinary Government Commissioner for the Jubilee, Roberto Gualtieri, echoed that sentiment. “The pilgrims did not take anything away from Rome’s ability to welcome tourists and serve its citizens,” he said. “On the contrary, the Jubilee was a driving force.” He pointed to the Jubilee of Young People at Tor Vergata in August as emblematic: a moment when “faith touched the heart of the city.”
Human Effort and Volunteer Spirit
Amid global headlines and papal ceremonies, thousands of volunteers quietly sustained the Holy Year’s rhythm. Archbishop Fisichella highlighted the 7,000 volunteers who personified the event’s communal spirit: 5,000 dedicated their time year-round, while another 2,000 from the Order of Malta provided first aid across the four Basilicas.
“In a time of easy individualism,” he said, “the tireless work of so many volunteers was an extraordinary expression of generosity.”
Security, Health, and Calm
The success of the Jubilee also reflected a spirit of calm professionalism. Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region, reported 580,000 emergency interventions and a 1.6 million emergency room visits, both figures higher than the previous year but managed without disruption. “Coordination replaced competition,” Rocca said, describing a regional system that “worked with serenity rather than tension.”
Rome’s Prefect, Lamberto Giannini, praised the capital’s security forces for safeguarding millions without resorting to overt militarization. “We sought to convey security not through force, but through presence,” Giannini said. He recalled one image that captured the Jubilee’s essence: “At the Circus Maximus, during the Jubilee of Youth, confessionals stood under the open sky—a symbol of faith that will remain in everyone’s memory.”
Hope Rekindled
As Pope Leo XIV prepares to close the Holy Door, marking the official end of the Jubilee, the sense of unity that swept through the city lingers. The Holy Year may have officially lasted twelve months, but its emotional and spiritual resonance—visible in every volunteer’s smile, every candle lit, every penitent’s prayer—will outlast the ceremonial conclusion.
“The Jubilee made people look beyond themselves,” Archbishop Fisichella reflected. “It offered signs of hope—and hope, as we know, does not disappoint.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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