At a Glance
- Pope Leo XIV closed 2025 Holy Year with a prayer that Rome welcomes all
- 3.2 million people joined Jubilee events
- 2025 marked the election of the first U.S. pope after Francis’s death
- Why it matters: Rome’s hospitality reflects the Church’s outreach
A New Year’s Eve vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica marked the end of the 2025 Holy Year, with Pope Leo XIV thanking volunteers and the city for keeping crowds moving. He echoed Pope Francis’s call for Rome to be more welcoming, adding a prayer for the city’s fragile and lonely residents.
Closing the Jubilee
Pope Leo XIV led the vespers, expressing gratitude for the pilgrims who came to Rome during the once-every-quarter-century celebration.
Pope Leo XIV stated:
> ‘I would like it to be so again, and I would say even more so after this time of grace.’
Pope Leo XIV added:
> ‘What can we wish for Rome? That it may be worthy of its little ones. Of children, of lonely and fragile elderly people, of families who struggle to get by, of men and women who have come from afar hoping for a dignified life.’
He also thanked Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and other dignitaries present in the pews.
2025: A Year of Transition
The year also saw the papal transition after Pope Francis’s death in April, leading to the election of the first U.S. pope. Vatican statistics released this week show that 3.2 million participants took part in liturgies, audiences, Angelus prayers, and Jubilee events. Numbers were modest in the first quarter due to Francis’s hospitalization, then surged after Leo’s May election.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Participants in Jubilee events | 3.2 million |
| First U.S. pope elected | Yes |
| Pope Francis inauguration | Dec. 24 2024 |
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV closed the 2025 Holy Year with a prayer for Rome’s inclusivity.
- 3.2 million people joined the Jubilee’s religious activities.
- The year marked the first U.S. pope following Pope Francis’s death.
Rome’s celebration of the Holy Year ended with a hopeful vision for a more welcoming city, echoing the Church’s broader mission of compassion.
