Rome: As Rome prepares to celebrate the Jubilee of Tourism on Monday, Roman tour guide Dr. Elizabeth Lev shared insights with Vatican Radio on the unique role of tour operators and guides during this Holy Year, reflecting on the journey from guiding visitors to embracing the pilgrimage herself.
The Jubilee of Tourism recognizes the crucial work of those in the tourism industry who facilitate pilgrims’ spiritual journeys to Rome. Ahead of Monday’s celebrations, workers in the sector will attend Mass at the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome’s historic center, participate in a torchlight procession to Piazza Pia, and complete their pilgrimage at the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Dr. Lev, who has guided pilgrims and tourists in Rome for over 30 years, emphasized the role of guides as “bridge-builders.” She explained that guides help visitors navigate the cultural, historical, and spiritual dimensions of the Eternal City. “We are working very hard to be the best bridge and the best face we can for the Catholic Church,” she said, highlighting the responsibility guides bear in shaping pilgrims’ experiences.
Tour guides, Lev noted, are often the first point of contact for international visitors unfamiliar with Rome’s language and labyrinthine streets. Their role goes beyond providing historical facts they offer empathy, understanding, and support, helping pilgrims feel safe, inspired, and spiritually enriched. During the Jubilee Year, when visitors seek renewal through passage into the Holy Door, guides become essential companions in moments of deep personal reflection and vulnerability.
Lev reflected on the dual responsibility of guides: serving the pilgrims and caring for Rome’s sacred sites. They ensure that visitors experience the city in its best light, often navigating logistical challenges and crowded spaces to maintain a smooth and meaningful pilgrimage.
For Lev personally, the Jubilee offers a full-circle experience. Initially involved in the “From Tourist to Pilgrim” project, she guided countless pilgrims through Rome, learning to see the city from their perspective. Now, she will enter the Holy Door not as a guide but as a pilgrim, sharing in the collective spiritual journey alongside her peers. “The joy of being this particular pilgrimage is being together with my community… I owe so much to them because they helped me make a life in this magnificent country and get closer to this fabulous Church,” she said.
As Rome welcomes millions of pilgrims during this Jubilee, Dr. Lev’s reflections underscore the essential and often unsung work of tour guides in connecting people with faith, history, and culture. Her words highlight that guiding is not just a profession but a ministry of presence, compassion, and spiritual accompaniment.