VATICAN CITY — In a ceremony rich with symbolism, Pope Leo XIV formally concluded the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, delivering a powerful homily that criticized contemporary consumerist culture and anti-immigrant attitudes. The event marked the culmination of an extraordinary Jubilee that witnessed approximately 33 million pilgrims journey to Rome and featured the unprecedented transition between two pontiffs—the late Pope Francis and his successor.
Kneeling in prayer on the stone floor at the threshold of St. Peter’s Holy Door before sealing it shut, Pope Leo completed a rare historical parallel: only once before, in 1700, has a Holy Year been opened by one pope and closed by another. This Jubilee had commenced under a frail Pope Francis in December 2024, continued through his funeral and the subsequent conclave, and concluded under new leadership a year later.
With the ceremonial closure accomplished, Pope Leo immediately signaled the beginning of his substantive pontificate by summoning cardinals worldwide for a two-day Vatican meeting starting Wednesday. The agenda prominently features discussions on church governance and liturgical matters, particularly addressing divisions within the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church regarding the traditional Latin Mass.
In his Epiphany homily, Pope Leo challenged Christians to reflect on biblical teachings of hospitality, asking: ‘Has the Jubilee taught us to flee from this type of efficiency that reduces everything to a product and human beings to consumers? After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner?’
The Vatican reported substantial participation with over 33 million pilgrims, though organizers acknowledged this figure represents a rough estimate potentially including duplicate counts. The Holy Year tradition, dating to 1300, brings faithful to Rome seeking indulgences while providing the city opportunities for major infrastructure projects. For the 2025 Jubilee, Rome utilized approximately €4 billion in public funds to complete long-delayed modernization efforts, including a significant pedestrian piazza linking St. Peter’s Square to Castel St. Angelo.
Pope Leo has already announced the next Jubilee will occur in 2033, commemorating the traditional year of Christ’s death and resurrection.