Jubilee 2025: What you should know if you make a pilgrimage to Rome

On foot, by bicycle and even on horseback, a multitude of pilgrims arrive every day at the tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican, the goal of a journey undertaken by many as an act of faith.

There are various routes that pilgrims can take on their journey to Rome, and one of the most emblematic is the Romea Strataa historic path that has guided travelers from Central and Eastern Europe to Rome.

Before becoming a pilgrimage route, this itinerary was used for multiple purposes, including commercial, and was traveled by historical figures such as Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo Galilei, as well as other figures who spread Christianity.

On the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025, the experience upon arriving at the Eternal City will take a new direction thanks to the fact that the last stage of the trip has been completely reorganized with the recovery of a disused railway section and a permanent welcome service at the entrance in the Basilica.

Rome is preparing to receive more than thirty million pilgrims from all over the world during the Jubilee Year. But what steps should pilgrims follow when arriving at the Eternal City? The project Romea Strata has the answer.

Volunteers will accompany the pilgrims

Firstly, those who wish to complete their pilgrimage at the tomb of the first apostle can go to the reception and accompaniment service located on one of the sides of the Basilica, next to the sculpture of the “Unconscious Angels”.

There, the volunteers of this initiative, promoted by the San Pedro Factory and the Foundation Homo Viator – Saint Tybalt of the Diocese of Vicenza, will guide pilgrims towards exclusive access to the Basilica during the celebration of the daily pilgrim Mass, thus avoiding long lines of tourists.

In addition, a system for digitizing and systematizing passenger data has been implemented, and those who have traveled at least 100 km will be able to obtain the Testimonya certificate on parchment with the images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

This service, which began last May, will be maintained permanently during the Jubilee. According to the San Pedro Factory, between June and October 3,700 were issued Testimony.

This is the example of the Spaniard Alberto Castello de Pereda, known as a “pilgrim for peace,” who arrived in Rome on foot from Jerusalem after a long and arduous journey, made even more difficult by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also highlights the story of a couple from Pisa (Italy) who arrived at St. Peter’s Square on horseback.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and president of St. Peter’s Factory, noted that this “attention and closeness allows them to feel more welcome and welcome in this unique place loved by all the faithful in the world.”

“In this way, reflection and the moment of interiority that arises during the silence of the long journey of faith are encouraged,” he highlighted.

The new route

One of the most relevant novelties of the project is the modification of the last section of the road, which leaves Via Trionfale towards a new, simpler, safer and more pleasant route.

This section, according to the San Pedro Factory, allows an unprecedented entrance to the Basilica, significantly improving the experience and offering an incomparable view of the city.

“This new access will not only improve security, but will offer a unique experience, allowing us to live intensely the spirituality that characterizes our journey to the new Jerusalem,” said Father Raimondo Sinibaldi, president of the project. Homo Viator.

The RFI (Italian Railway Network) and the city’s municipal government are working on the recovery of a disused railway section, including the Monte Ciocci tunnel, closed for almost a decade. This project not only aims to enhance the landscape, but also create an appropriate atmosphere for arrival in San Pedro.

The presentation of the new guide to the Romea Stratawhich will include a detailed description of more than a thousand kilometers of the route, highlighting not only its historical relevance, but also points of sociocultural and natural interest. It will be an essential tool for all pilgrims, offering practical and narrative details.