Jubilee 2025: institutional working group and coordination committee meet at Palazzo Chigi

A joint meeting of the institutional working group and the coordination committee for the Jubilee of the Catholic Church in 2025 was held at Palazzo Chigi today, chaired by Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano.

At the start of the meeting, the Pro-Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelization, Monsignor Rino Fisichella, provided an overview of the initial period of the Jubilee Year. To date, approximately 1.5 million people have passed through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and visitor numbers for the Basilica of Saint John, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, although yet to be confirmed, are also significant. Around 40,000 people attended the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, Police and Security Forces, which was held on 8-9 February, exceeding the number of registrations received.

The complex task of managing high numbers of pilgrims has been carried out in an orderly manner, thanks also to the cooperation of public security and police forces whose presence has been significant but discreet. Traffic is also flowing smoothly, thanks to the extension of the Lungotevere in Sassia underpass. Monsignor Fisichella concluded that this was a reassuring test ahead of the Holy Year’s next major events, including the Jubilee of Teenagers on 25 April, which is expected to be attended by more than 100,000 people.

The Special Government Commissioner for the Jubilee, Roberto Gualtieri, provided an update on the progress of works projects. Out of the 323 projects planned for the Jubilee, 234 have been completed and 47 will be finished soon, including the ‘Ponte dell’Industria’ bridge and the Monte Ciocci-San Pietro cycle and pedestrian path. 
The head of hospitality service coordination for the Jubilee 2025, Agostino Miozzo, highlighted other major events, such as the Jubilee of Workers and the Jubilee of Confraternities (which, as Monsignor Fisichella announced, will be attended by Queen Letizia of Spain) and above all the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, with accommodation requests concerning approximately 500,000 people. 

The Prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, also took the floor to highlight the efforts to ensure the highest levels of safety for pilgrims, and the Minister for European Affairs, the NRRP and Cohesion Policy, Tommaso Foti, provided details of the funding regarding the ‘Caput Mundi’ measure. The President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, also spoke during the meeting, as did the President of the Umbria Region, Stefania Proietti, who reported on the coordination work regarding the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, whose remains rest in Assisi, on 27 April, and the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures. During the meeting, the 2025 communication campaign was also presented, made up of a values-based advert and a public information campaign, including posters.

Attendees also included the Head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano, and representatives from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of the Interior, the company Giubileo 2025 S.p.A. and RAI. 

Having heard the news of Pope Francis being admitted to hospital, Undersecretary of State Mantovano sent best wishes for a speedy recovery to the Holy Father on behalf of all participants.