Rome: The Eternal City is once again at the heart of global Catholic life as the Jubilee of Catechists officially began on Friday, drawing more than 20,000 pilgrims from 115 countries. The three-day celebration, running from September 26–28, is dedicated to those who carry the mission of teaching the faith in parishes, schools, and communities across the world.
The diversity of the gathering underscores the universal nature of catechesis. Pilgrims have arrived from every corner of the globe across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Countries represented include Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Ukraine, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, the Philippines, India, and Australia, among many others.
These catechists represent not only their parishes but also diocesan and national catechetical offices, as well as episcopal conferences, embodying the shared responsibility of the Church to nurture faith in people of all ages and walks of life.
The Jubilee opened on Friday morning with pilgrimages to the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, a symbolic gesture linking catechists’ service to the wider journey of faith.
In the evening, participants gathered in the Basilica for a solemn Prayer Vigil presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. The Vigil focused on the Gospel passage of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33a), a fitting image of catechists accompanying others on their journey of discovery in Christ.
Three catechists from Italy, Mozambique, and Mexicoshared personal testimonies of their pastoral service, highlighting the daily challenges and joys of nurturing the faith in their communities.
On Saturday, September 27, the heart of the Jubilee unfolds as the catechists gather in St. Peter’s Square for a Jubilee Audience with Pope Leo XIV. The Pope is expected to encourage the catechists and emphasize the indispensable role they play in evangelization today.
Later in the day, at 4:00 pm, catechists will spread out to different churches across central Rome for catechetical sessions in their own languages, accompanied by bishops. Sessions will be conducted in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Polish, reinforcing both the cultural richness and unity of the Church’s mission.
The celebration will reach its culmination on Sunday, September 28, with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square presided over by Pope Leo XIV. During this liturgy, the Pope will formally commission 39 new catechists, each of whom will receive a crucifix as a sign of their special vocation.
The candidates for the lay ministry of catechist come from a wide array of nations, including Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, East Timor, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, the United States, Mozambique, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Their commissioning highlights the Pope’s commitment to strengthening the catechetical mission of the Church worldwide.
The Jubilee of Catechists underscores the vital role of those who dedicate themselves to passing on the faith, preserving Christian memory, and forming disciples for future generations. As the global Church faces the challenges of secularization, migration, and cultural change, this Jubilee stands as a witness to the vitality and resilience of those who, in the words of Pope Leo, are “the everyday companions of the faithful on their journey toward God.”