The Jubilee exceeds expectations: more than 33 million people visited Rome

The Jubilee of 2025 convened by Pope Francis in 2024, with the Bull ‘Spes non confundit’ (Hope does not disappoint) has exceeded its pilgrim forecasts. More than 33 million pilgrims have flocked to Rome to earn the Jubilee. The forecast was 31.7 million pilgrims, so it has been exceeded by nearly 1.5 million people.

At the time of data closure, more than two weeks ago, the figure was 32.4 million. But with those arriving at the end of December and January, the figure has grown to more than 33 million. The data was provided this morning by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions of Evangelization in the World, at a press conference at the Vatican.

Alongside Archbishop Fisiquella, Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome and Special Commissioner for the Government, were also present. Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region, and Lamberto Giannini, Prefect of Rome, were also in attendance.

13 million young people

Of the total number of pilgrims, 13 million have been young people. The peak occurred in May, during the conclave in which Pope Leo XIV was elected following the death of Pope Francis, with organizers counting 3.9 million pilgrims. The number of accredited journalists was 90,400.

62.63 percent, Europeans

According to data provided by Monsignor Fisiquella, pilgrims from Europe have topped the ranking of visitors to celebrate the jubilee. Holy Year by 2025, reaching 62.63 percent of the total, or around 20 million people. It is followed by North America (16.54%), South America (9.44%), Asia (7.69%), Oceania (1.14%), Central America and the Caribbean (1.04%). And also Africa (0.95%) and the Middle East (0.46%).

Monsignor Fisiquella emphasized that the Jubilee “has been a year of grace,” marked by “hope.” There have been 35 major events and five openings of the Holy Door in Rome, in addition to all those that have been opened in local churches around the world.

 

Closing tomorrow, on Epiphany

Tomorrow, January 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica and bring this Jubilee of Hope to a close.

Some of the main events of the Jubilee, Archbishop Fisiquella pointed out, have also been the Youth Jubilee of Tor Vergata or the Circus Maximus, that of the rulers, the canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, etc. He also pointed out that the Jubilee was a significant stage but not the last one. He referred to the year 2033, which will mark 2,000 years since the Redemption, that is, the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pope Leo XIV: “joyful event”

During the general audience on December 31, Pope Leo highlighted three “important events” from the past year. «Some were joyful, such as the pilgrimage of so many faithful for the Holy Year; others were painful, such as the death of the late Pope Francis and the scenes of war that continue to shake the planet.”. 

The jubilee pilgrimage of millions of Catholics around the world in 2025 is a reminder that “our whole life is a journey, whose final destination transcends space and time, to be fulfilled in the encounter with God and in full and eternal communion with Him,” said the Pope.