The original plans for the pilgrimage to Rome included attending a General Audience with the Pope. This had to be cancelled as Pope Leo XIV was not yet inaugurated, and so the pilgrims had the opportunity to participate in a short pilgrimage from Piazza Pia to St Peter’s Basilica.
The bus drops off the pilgrims close to Castel Sant’Angelo, the Castle of the Holy Angel, and the pilgrims enjoy the early morning walk along the banks of the Tiber River and seeing this huge building that was intended to be a mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian and his family. From the 14th century on, the popes lived in the castle or used it as a fortress, a place of rescue and later as a prison. Today, it is a museum.
From there, the pilgrims reach the Jubilee Place, the new Piazza Pia, unveiled in December 2024, and resulting in a space that can accommodate up to 150,000 people. The square is pedestrian-friendly and included the relocation of sewer collectors and the creation of a subterranean road network – and during this work they were discovering ancient structures, such as a residential building from the early imperial period.
Situated between Castel Sant’Angelo and Via della Conciliazione, the renovated Piazza Pia serves as a monumental gateway to the heart of Rome’s Jubilee celebrations. There is a huge plain fountain on an axis to the Vatican Obelisk and St Peter’s Basilica. At this fountain the pilgrims gather and wait for their turn.
Once they receive their wooden processional cross with the logo of the Jubilee Year on it, the pilgrims can proceed. Slowly, while praying and also singing the Jubilee song, the pilgrims approach St Peter’s Square. Thanks to having practiced the Jubilee song on the bus, the German pilgrims sing the German version on their way.
They reach the security controls where their bags and even the borrowed wooden crosses are checked. Then, the pilgrims enter the basilica through the Porta Santa, the Holy Door, and many pilgrims touch the beautiful bronze door in awe and gratitude.
The pilgrims enter the sacred building where they had celebrated Mass the day before and on passing, some try to get another glimpse to Michelangelo’s Pietá, as well as to the tomb of Pope John Paul II.
Other pilgrim groups sing the Jubilee in English on the way:
Ev’ry nation, tongue, and people find a light within your Word.
Scattered fragile sons and daughters find a home in your dear Son.
BM
Series Diary of a Pilgrim
