ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV ended 2025 on Wednesday with a prayer for the city of Rome to be a welcoming place for foreigners and vulnerable people, young and old.
Leo led the New Year’s Eve Vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica, giving thanks for the Holy Year 2025 that attracts millions of pilgrims to Rome to take part in Christian celebrations that occur every quarter of a century.
Leo will officially end his Jubilee on January 6th. But in his homily he thanked the city of Rome and the volunteers who helped keep the crowds moving as they visited St. Peter’s Basilica and passed through the Holy Door.
He recalled that Pope Francis launched the Holy Year on December 24, 2024, and asked that Rome become a more welcoming place. “I hope so again, and even more so after this grace,” Leo said.
“What hope do we have for Rome? For it to be worthy of its little children. Children, elderly people who are alone and vulnerable, families struggling to get by, men and women who have come from far and wide in the hope of living a dignified life,” he said.
Sitting on the benches were the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and other dignitaries.
In addition to the jubilee, 2025 is also significant because of the papal transition that took place after Francis’ death in April, with cardinals electing the first pope from the United States in history.
Statistics released by the Vatican this week show that 3.2 million people attended Vatican liturgies, audiences, Angelus prayers and Jubilee audiences this year. The numbers were small in the first quarter because of Francis’ prolonged hospitalization and illness, but rose sharply after Leo’s election in May.
___
AP religion coverage is supported through the AP’s partnership with The Conversation US and grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Associated Press is solely responsible for this content.