Brotherhoods around the world celebrate jubilee in Rome

Shortly before 2:00 pm in Rome the surroundings of the emblematic coliseum were filled with faithful to see the great procession held this Saturday.

On the occasion of the Jubilee of the Brotherhoods – which is celebrated from May 16 to 18 in Rome – the Dicastery for the evangelization of the Vatican organized a great procession with representations of these realities of popular faith established in various parts of the world.

Given the high number of brotherhoods that expressed their desire to participate, it has been necessary to organize the procession on two tours.

A first procession departed from Piazza Celimontana and toured several streets until it reached the Massimo circus of Rome.

In this emotional procession, brotherhoods from Portugal, Spain, Italy and France participated. Among them, the Brotherhood of Santíssimo Sacramento de Mafra (Portugal); Arciconfaternita Vaticana di Sant’anna de ‘Parafrenieri (Italy) and the brotherhood of the sweet name of Jesús Nazareno de León (Spain).

From Seville (Spain), the Royal and Illustrious Brotherhood and Brotherhood of Nazarenes of the Blessed Christ of Expiration and our Mother and Lady of Sponsorship in her pain and glory arrived. Also from Spain, in this case in Malaga, the Pontifical and Real Archicofradía del Dulce de Jesús Nazareno del Paso and María Santísima de la Esperanza arrived.

Testimonies of Faith of the Brotherhoods

In statements collected This May 17 for Vatican News, Tiago Pereira, prior of the Portuguese brotherhood of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, said: “Today we feel hugged by the Church to live an extraordinary moment next to a multitude of people arrived here in the name of Christ.”

Tiago comes from Aljustrel, a hometown of San Francisco Marto, one of the seers of the Virgin of Fatima. He recalled that “last Tuesday, on the occasion of the solemnity of the Virgin of Fatima, we were in our hermitage paying tribute to the Virgin, Patroness of Aljustrel.”

“Yesterday we cross the Holy Door and tomorrow we will conclude this great experience of faith participating in the Mass for the beginning of the Petrino de León XIV Ministry.”

Alessandro Moresi, from the Archicofradía del Santimimit of Ancona, shared with the Vatican medium that, “from its origins, pilgrimage is the most spontaneous and pure expression of the faith of the brotherhoods.” “It is not just a long physical journey, but it symbolizes the common path of humanity, which in its route finds the most fragile and holds them, the discourages and encourages them.”

“The brotherhoods and the brother sisters are therefore a sign of hope, because when they gather, pray together and help those in need they have embodied that Christian charity that Christ taught us,” he said.