By Emily Cavins

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

As the Jubilee pilgrimage year of 2025 draws to a close on January 6, 2026, I would like to reflect on what a special year it has been. Pope Francis opened the doors of four churches in Rome and encouraged pilgrims to journey through them with this focus: to be pilgrims of hope who are yearning for the treasures of heaven.

My husband, Jeff, and I had the joy of traveling to Rome twice within the year, bringing pilgrims with us. (WINE also had a Jubilee pilgrimage!) Jeff and I also led a pilgrimage to Poland. Throughout the three pilgrimages, there were opportunities for indulgences at pilgrimage churches that have been designated for this.

The most special pilgrimage place for me was at the Shrine of Saint John Paul II, where prominently in a side chapel of the large circular church is displayed the white garment he wore when he was shot in St. Peter Square on May 13, 1981. His blood-stained cassock is displayed for veneration in a glass case with a kneeler in front of it. The small tear in the garment where the bullet entered is also visible. I knelt before it to pray and could have stayed there for hours, gazing at the blood of a Saint. Near the display case, on the wall, is a modern mosaic of two churches in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica and St. John Lateran, the church we celebrate today. Both of these churches have open holy doors for the Jubilee. The mural on the wall of St. John Lateran reminded me that as we enter any church, we are connected to that first church in Rome.

St. John Lateran is known as the “mother of all churches” because it was the first Christian basilica to be built in Rome. It was commissioned by Constantine, and it contains relics of Sts. Peter and Paul.

In one of the homilies on our Poland pilgrimage, the priest reminded us of the words of St. John Paul II, “All of life is a pilgrimage to our father’s house.” Every step on the journey is an intentional decision to walk in the right direction. By keeping our sights on the treasure, our life will be in line with his will. Every day, the itinerary should include time for prayer and reflection, and firm decisions to go forward.

Many churches around the world have been designated for the purpose of the Jubilee, so we were able to visit many churches in Poland marked as pilgrimage sites. There is still time to engage in a pilgrimage to commemorate this year of Jubilee. A special indulgence can be obtained when making a pilgrimage to a designated church, even if it’s only a few miles away from home. To obtain the grace, pray for the Pope’s intentions, attend Mass, and go to confession (within a week’s time). Having the intention of offering the indulgence for a person adds a tangible dimension to pilgrimage.

Prayer

Jubilee Prayer by Pope Francis

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within

both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Call to Action

Find a Jubilee church near you and make a pilgrimage to it, keeping in mind that this is part of your journey to the Father’s House. Choose a person to obtain an indulgence for and be sure to fulfill the requirements of prayer, Mass, and confession.

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