In a small, dimly lit chamber beside the centuries-old Church of the Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims in Rome, the echoes of Latin chants blended with nervous laughter and the soft sound of water. On a gentle March evening, Australian teenagers visiting the Eternal City for a jubilee pilgrimage experienced a gesture as ancient as it is sacred — the washing of their feet by members of a Catholic fraternity whose roots date back nearly 500 years.
The ritual, once performed by St. Philip Neri and his companions, is now being revived by the modern-day archconfraternity named in his honor. With deep spiritual meaning, the act mirrors the humility of Christ at the Last Supper. For these pilgrims, it marked not just the start of their physical journey through Rome, but a symbolic beginning to their spiritual renewal.
This tradition, inspired by the life and work of St. Philip Neri — affectionately known as the “Third Apostle of Rome” — is being brought back to life as the Catholic world prepares for the Jubilee of Hope in 2025. During the Jubilee Year of 1550, when pilgrims arrived in the city weary and in need, Neri organized care through a lay group devoted to aiding travelers. Today, though reduced in numbers, the archconfraternity continues to uphold the values of service, prayer, and hospitality.
Though no longer possessing the vast network of buildings once available to shelter thousands, the fraternity still offers what it can. The foot washing, done in Latin and ending with the Gospel reading from John and the communal recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, serves as a powerful connection to the past. Volunteers don the same white aprons once worn in the 1500s, preserving both the symbolism and sincerity of the act.
On March 24, sixteen high school students from Melbourne experienced this intimate ritual. Their feet were gently washed — boys by male members, girls by female members — in a quiet room flanked by relics of the past, including a grand painting awaiting restoration. Fr. Vilmar Pavesi, a local priest, led the prayers, while even a confraternity member’s dog, Minnie, sat quietly witnessing the event.
The foot washing is now recommended as one of the first stops on any pilgrimage itinerary and can be arranged by contacting the archconfraternity directly. This act of spiritual cleansing is only one part of a broader effort by the Diocese of Rome to open its arms to the faithful. Drawing on Rome’s rich tradition of pilgrim hospitality, parishes, religious congregations, and even local families are preparing to host guests from around the world.
Historically, English pilgrims found lodging at the Venerable English College beginning in the 14th century, while others were welcomed in buildings linked to the Santo Spirito Hospital and along streets named for their heritage, such as Via dei Portoghesi for Portuguese visitors.
Now, as preparations for the 2025 Jubilee intensify, the city’s spiritual embrace is expanding once again. The upcoming Jubilee of Teenagers, climaxing with the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis on April 27, is set to be one of the most significant moments of the year. Parishes are organizing accommodations in halls and convents, while families are offering spare rooms in a unified act of Christian welcome.
As Fr. Alfredo Tedesco from the diocesan youth office reflected, by opening their doors and hearts, communities are living out Scripture’s reminder: “some have entertained angels unaware.” Through such heartfelt hospitality, the Church hopes to inspire the next generation to become joyful witnesses of faith, rooted in centuries of tradition and alive with present-day grace.