Catholic jubilee: What is it and should you still travel to Italy this year?

The King and Queen are set to begin a state visit to Italy, a trip that coincides with the Catholic jubilee year, an event that only happens every 25 years. 

The four-day visit will see Charles and Camilla attend a series of public and diplomatic events in the capital, Rome, and the city of Ravenna.

This year, Rome expects to welcome three times its normal number of visitors – between 30 and 32 million, compared to an average of 10 million – as Catholics travel to the city for the jubilee, which marks a time of pilgrimage, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

The jubilee, also known as the holy year, officially began on 24 December 2024 and will run until 6 January 2026.

With major events throughout the year, Rome will be particularly busy – so much so that the UK Foreign Office has updated its advice for tourists planning to travel there.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is the Catholic jubilee?

A jubilee year is a time for Catholics to “re-establish a proper relationship with God, one another and with all of creation”, according to the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Each jubilee year starts with the Pope opening the Holy Doors at St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve in the Vatican City. This represents the passage from sin to grace and new beginnings. The pontiff then opens a further four Holy Doors which remain open for the entire year.

This jubilee year, the Pope opened San Giovanni in Laterano (St John Lateran) on 29 December, Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major) on 1 January and St Paul’s Outside the Walls on 5 January.

For the first time, he also opened a Holy Door at a prison. He opened one at Rebibbia new complex prison in Rome on 26 December as a gesture of hope for prisoners.

As the pontiff, the Pope has the authority to proclaim any church door as a Holy Door.

The goal of pilgrims who travel to Rome during a jubilee year is to pass through at least one of the Holy Doors.

Why are the royals going to Italy?

Despite being head of the Church of England, the King was set to meet the Pope, a meeting that would have marked “a significant step forward in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England”, according to Buckingham Palace.

However, due to the 88-year-old pontiff recovering from pneumonia, the private meeting between the two has been postponed.

Instead of going to the Holy See – the government of the Roman Catholic Church located in the Vatican – Charles and Camilla will make a historic visit to the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls and the King will become the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Italian parliament.

During the last jubilee, in the year 2000, Queen Elizabeth II met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

Can I still travel to Italy this year?

Rome is expected to be “very busy” throughout this year, particularly when bigger jubilee events take place, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has said.

In an update on 17 March, it advised Britons wanting to head to Italy, particularly the capital, to plan ahead.

The US Embassy in Italy has also updated its website to say: “Be prepared for crowds and extended wait times for transportation and entry into locations.

“You should book accommodations, transportation, and attraction tickets well in advance of arrival. Rome’s public transportation system will be under strain, and regular routes and schedules may change.”

There are events taking place nearly every month, with the most listed for May and June.

Events targeted towards specific groups of people, including families, workers, entrepreneurs and disabled people will take place, as well as concerts and special exhibitions in Rome’s museums.

The FCDO says people wanting to take part in the jubilee or organise a pilgrimage will need a Pilgrim’s card. This is free to download and can be obtained on the jubilee website or through the official app.

Despite Italy being busier than usual, Rome and other parts of the country are set to look their best for the jubilee, having been under construction nearly all of last year.

The capital pulled together billions of euros of state and European funds to overhaul tourist sites, transport hubs, parks, streets and even its rubbish bins.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told Reuters last year that the jubilee was an “unmissable opportunity to make structural changes… and transform Rome”.

A record 3,200 public construction works were scheduled to take place, including 322 projects that were deemed essential for the jubilee.

Tips from a tour guide

Livia Angelini, a travel specialist at tour operator Scott Dunn, said for people planning to visit the Italian capital this year, “timing is everything”.

She recommends avoiding peak travel season in June and July, and when planning to visit major tourist sites such as the Vatican and Colosseum, go earlier in the morning rather than in the afternoon and on weekdays rather than weekends.

Read more:
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Ms Angelini added that visiting “lesser-known neighbourhoods to see some of the more local areas” will also give tourists a more authentic Roman experience without huge crowds.

“Wander the quiet, charming streets of Garbatella, and lose yourself in Monti, home to eclectic boutiques and traditional Roman trattorias,” she said.

“For those travellers who seek to combine another area, I recommend heading to the coast or countryside after your time in Rome. Hop on a train to Naples and ferry across to the idyllic island of Ischia, explore the vineyards and hilltop towns of Tuscany, or embrace a slower pace of life in Puglia.”