Holy doors and Jubilee Walking Itineraries

Explore Rome’s Holy Doors: Walking Itineraries for the Jubilee Year

From a symbolic perspective, the Holy Door holds particular importance as it represents the most profound symbol of the Jubilee. The primary goal of the pilgrim is to pass through this door. When the Pope opens it, it marks the official commencement of the Holy Year.

The opening of the Holy Doors

One of the main Jubilee traditions involves the opening of the Papal Basilicas Holy Doors.

Each of the major basilicas in Rome: Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and of course Saint Peter’s – the Vatican Basilica – has a holy door that will be opened to kick off the Jubilee 2025 on December 24th.

The Holy Door of St. John Lateran‘s will open on December 29th, St. Mary Major‘s Holy Door will open on January 1st 2025, while the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls will open on January 5, 2025.

Although these beautiful basilicas are always worth visiting, the chance to walk through these “doorways of mercy” is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many, especially for those looking to receive the “Jubilee Indulgence.”

Keep in mind that to organize a pilgrimage to the Holy Door, you must OBTAIN A PILGRIM’S CARD. Check out our guide on the Pilgrim’s Card for more information.

Holy doors and Walking Tours: What to see

Jubilee Walking Itineraries

For those looking to get the full experience by making a Jubilee pilgrimage, there are designated routes for “penitential” walks that begin at each Papal Basilica and end at St. Peter’s. There are four main itineraries, Via Papale (which has two variations), Via del Pellegrino and Cammino Mariano, all of which end at Castel Sant’Angelo, where a protected pathway leads pilgrims to St. Peter’s.

The Via Papale begins at St John Lateran, passes the Colosseum and Mamertine Prison, and splits in two at Piazza Navona, where one can either go to Santa Maria in Vallicella, (a.k.a.Chiesa Nuova) or San Salvatore in Lauro.

The Via del Pellegrino route begins at St John Lateran as well, although from there it stops at San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini before winding all the way to Castel Sant’Angelo.

The Cammino Mariano begins at St Mary Major then passes several churches dedicated to Our Lady and joins Via Papale at Piazza Navona. Churches are selected as stopping points for their historical and sacred importance as places where Pilgrims can go to confess and pray.

There is also the ancient “Seven Church Walk” which dates by to 1552 and can take one or two days depending on how fast you cover the 20km distance. The pilgrimage ritual includes visiting the four major basilicas and three other historical Jubilee churches: San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and San Sebastiano fuori le mura. The walk, which has traditionally been done overnight after the 7pm mass at Santa Maria Vallicella, starts at St. Peter’s and ends at St Mary Major.