Vatican City: More than 5,000 Jubilee volunteers walked together through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on Monday evening, marking a symbolic and emotional close to the Jubilee of Hope that drew over 33 million pilgrims to Rome.
As light rain fell over Via della Conciliazione, reflections of St Peter’s Basilica shimmered in puddles along the road that has seen countless pilgrims pass during the Holy Year. Wearing their green jackets, the volunteers carried with them the stories, prayers, and concerns of millions of people they had guided and supported throughout the year.
The final pilgrimage was led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who carried the Jubilee’s wooden cross at the head of the procession. Members of the Dicastery joined the volunteers, many of whom had served daily at the Holy Door, helping manage crowds and ensuring a spirit of welcome, safety, and fraternity.
Prayers and hymns accompanied the walk, but as the group reached the Holy Door, silence took over. The volunteers paused in reflection before the doors that Pope Leo XIV was set to close the following day, formally concluding the Jubilee. For many, it was the first time they approached the doors not as guides, but as pilgrims themselves.
Some touched the wooden panels, made the sign of the cross, and offered personal prayers. Throughout the Holy Year, they had watched others cross this threshold. This time, the moment belonged to them.
Inside the Basilica, the procession moved toward the centre, where Archbishop Fisichella led prayers for the Jubilee indulgence according to the Pope’s intentions and invited the volunteers to profess the Creed together.
Addressing them, he described the year as a beautiful adventure and reminded them that hope does not end when a journey concludes. He encouraged them to continue as living stones of the Church in their daily lives.
With that, the volunteers’ pilgrimage came to an end, closing a chapter of quiet service that played a vital role in welcoming the world to Rome during the Jubilee of Hope.