Rome: Tourism professionals from across Italy and beyond gathered in Rome on Monday evening for a special Jubilee pilgrimage, celebrating the often-unseen spiritual role played by those who support millions of pilgrims and visitors each year. Around 400 participants took part in the Jubilee of Tourism, an event that placed the religious and pastoral dimension of tourism work at the heart of the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope.
The pilgrimage, held on December 15, brought together tourist guides, tour leaders, travel agents, tour operators, and hospitality workers, many of whom spend their working lives facilitating the faith journeys of others. Isabella Ruggiero, president of the Associazioni Guide Turistiche Abilitate (Associations of Qualified Tourist Guides) and one of the main organizers of the event, said the jubilee was designed to unite professionals who usually remain behind the scenes.
“This jubilee is not just for tour guides, but for everyone involved in the world of tourism,” Ruggiero said. “From travel agencies and tour operators to hotels and accommodation providers, every pilgrimage and every journey is the result of the dedication of countless people working at every stage.”
She emphasized that much of this work goes unnoticed. “People often only see the guide in front of them, but there are dozens of others involved from transport bookings and logistics to cleaning rooms and preparing spaces. From planning to the humblest tasks, every role matters.”
The evening began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Antonio Staglianò, president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and rector of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto. The liturgy was held at San Salvatore in Lauro, one of Rome’s 13 designated Jubilee of Hope churches, located near the bustling Piazza Navona.
Following the Mass, participants joined a candlelit procession across the historic Bridge of the Angels, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, passing in front of Castel Sant’Angelo. The pilgrimage culminated with the crossing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, coinciding with the Vatican’s unveiling of its Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square.
For many participants, the experience was deeply personal. Roman tour guide Elizabeth Lev described the evening as a moment of renewal and reconciliation.
“The Jubilee of Tourism allowed us to become pilgrims ourselves,” she said. “We passed through the Holy Door not as professionals, but in prayer, giving thanks for all the gifts of this year.”
Lev noted that tourism workers often spend their time organizing meaningful experiences for others, rarely pausing for their own spiritual renewal. “We suddenly realised that we had never planned something like this for ourselves,” she said. “As we entered the square, the Vatican Christmas tree was being lit, and the final steps of the pilgrimage were filled with carols and lights. It was one of the most moving days of my life.”
Ruggiero highlighted the broader mission of tourism professionals, particularly in Rome, where faith, history, and culture are deeply intertwined. She noted that more than 3,000 licensed tour guides of various nationalities currently work in the city.
“The guide’s role is to help people from every background encounter beauty, art, and history, while fostering respect for our shared heritage,” she said. “When it comes to pilgrims, our task is also to illuminate the spiritual meaning that lies behind these places.”
Religious tourism in Rome remains consistently strong, with an estimated 10 million pilgrims and visitors arriving each year. However, jubilee years dramatically increase these numbers.
“During the Holy Year 2000, Rome welcomed around 25 million pilgrims,” Ruggiero recalled. “Current estimates suggest that nearly 30 million pilgrims will have visited the city by the end of this jubilee year.”
The 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope is now approaching its final phase and will officially conclude on January 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
As the jubilee draws to a close, the Jubilee of Tourism served as a reminder that behind every pilgrimage are countless workers whose dedication quietly supports faith, encounter, and hope making tourism not just an industry, but a shared spiritual service.