Two‑Pope Jubilee Draws Over 33 Million Pilgrims to Rome as Pope Leo XIV Prepares to Close Holy Door

The 2025 Jubilee attracted more than 33 million pilgrims to Rome, the Vatican announced on Monday, as the final worshippers passed through the ornate Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to ceremonially close the basilica's bronze doors on Tuesday, a little more than a year after they were opened by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in April.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella said the events drew visitors from 185 countries and included 35 major gatherings — among them a youth festival and the canonization of the first saint born in the millennium. "These figures show a centuries‑old institution that is still a dynamic church," he told reporters.

The 2025 Jubilee will also be remembered as an unusual "two‑pope" Holy Year: the last time a pope died during a Jubilee was 1700.

Despite heavy rain outside St Peter's on Monday, thousands of pilgrims queued to pass through the Holy Door, many pausing to make the sign of the cross. By long‑standing tradition, walking through the Holy Door grants the faithful a plenary indulgence, a form of remission of sins.

"It's really a grace. And I feel great," said Josie Aguirre, 67, who traveled from the Philippines. "It was emotional — the feeling was really great. The jubilee door is a way to renew people's faith; it brings people together."

The Vatican said the final pilgrim would pass through the normally sealed door at 5:30 pm (1630 GMT). Held every 25 years, the Jubilee is a season of reflection and penance for the world's more than 1.4 billion Catholics.

Attendance, Origins and Political Context

According to Vatican statistics, roughly 60% of visitors came from Europe and about 16% from North America. Officials noted a marked uptick in arrivals after the May election of Leo — the first U.S.-born pope — a factor many credit with renewed global interest.

City Impact and Criticism

Significant parts of Rome were refreshed ahead of the Jubilee, including landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain. City officials said the event spurred a broader push to repair and modernize urban spaces.

Critics warned that Rome could struggle to absorb millions more visitors amid chronic over‑tourism and patchy public transport. Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, told reporters the capital had performed admirably during what he called a "boom year" for tourism and described the Jubilee's chief legacy as renewed confidence in the city's capacity for renewal after a long spell of stagnation.

In addition to St Peter's, Holy Doors were opened in Rome's three other major basilicas during the Jubilee year.

Personal Stories and The Road Ahead

John Yun, 61, a physician from Vancouver, Canada, said he was disappointed to find only one door still open when he arrived late in the Jubilee. He and his 21‑year‑old son nonetheless passed through and planned to attend Pope Leo's general audience on Wednesday.

"I hope he speaks some English. I love hearing English spoken by the Holy Father," Yun said. "He seems like he could be my parish priest — he has a very humble face, and he's ordinary. He looks a little awkward. I love it."

Observers say the end of the Jubilee should mark a turning point, enabling Pope Leo to more clearly imprint his own papacy. Since his election, the Chicago‑born pontiff has published documents prepared by Pope Francis before his death and has followed through on commitments made by the Argentine pope, including trips to Lebanon and Turkey.

Vatican analyst Andrea Gagliarducci described the past year as a "middle world" in which elements of the old and new pontificates overlapped; the Jubilee's close, he wrote, will allow Leo to "finally assert his leadership beyond the legacy of Pope Francis."