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Our visit to Rome and Vatican City happened to fall during an especially unique time. When we arrived, the Christmas tree was already standing tall in St. Peter’s Square, and workers were putting the finishing touches on the nativity scene beside it. We watched as Christmas market stalls slowly appeared along the sweeping colonnades, transforming the square day by day.

At the same time, this year had been designated a Jubilee Year of Hope by the newly appointed Pope Leo, drawing processions of pilgrims toward the basilica. Many had walked for miles to be there, each step carrying not only their physical journey but also their faith — some bearing crosses, others moving in quiet prayer and reflection. There was a solemn, almost tangible sense of devotion in the air as they made their way into the square.

While I am not particularly religious, witnessing these traditions converge at the very heart of Christianity was both fascinating and unexpectedly moving. What a different perspective these traditions gave to our visit to the Vatican.

1. Jubilee Year & the Holy Doors
2. Vatican Museums
3. Saint Peter’s Square
4. Saint Peter’s Basilica
5. Basilica of Saint Mary Major

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Jubilee Year & the Holy Doors

A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Pope every 25 years. These holy years are centered on grace, forgiveness, and renewal, inviting people to pause, reflect, and realign their lives with the principles of prayer, repentance, and mercy toward others.

One of the most meaningful traditions of a Jubilee Year is the pilgrimage through the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilicas. Pilgrims often walk long distances between basilicas, sometimes led by someone carrying a heavy cross. When they reach the doors, many pause to touch them gently before entering — a quiet, personal act of faith and humility marking the completion of both a physical and spiritual journey.

While Rome is filled with churches and basilicas, only four hold the distinction of being Papal Basilicas. These churches are directly connected to the authority of the Pope and carry particular significance during a Jubilee Year. When the Holy Year is proclaimed, their Holy Doors become central points of pilgrimage, with processions traditionally beginning and ending at St. Peter’s Basilica and continuing on foot to the other three basilicas across the city. It is a long and demanding route, but pilgrims walk it willingly, seeing each step as an offering and a path toward spiritual renewal and commitment.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the most well-known of the Papal Basilicas, standing at the heart of Vatican City and built over the tomb of Saint Peter, upon whom the Catholic Church was founded. The Basilica of St. John Lateran serves as the cathedral of Rome and is officially the cathedral of the Pope. The Basilica of St. Mary Major is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was built over the tomb of Saint Paul.

There are Jubilee stores that are found around the city. These places providing some physical items for the pilgrimage (such as backpacks, water bottles, hats, etc) as well as commemorative items to remember the journey. For those unable to travel to Vatican City, churches around the world are designated as Jubilee pilgrimage sites during Holy Years. These proxy basilicas allow parishioners to participate in the spiritual symbolism of the Jubilee while remaining closer to home.

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Vatican Museums

Our first stop was the Vatican Museums. This remarkable complex of buildings serves as the public museum system of Vatican City and houses centuries’ worth of art, sculpture, artifacts, and documents collected by the Catholic Church. Within its walls are layers of history, faith, and artistic achievement gathered across generations.

The Vatican Museums are the second most visited art museum in the world, surpassed only by the Louvre in Paris. And much like the Louvre, it would take weeks to fully explore everything on display — and far longer to truly understand the significance of the works within. The museums are made up of 24 galleries, with the most famous and sought-after being the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo during the Renaissance.

In October 2006, the Vatican Museums celebrated their 500th anniversary. The beginnings of this vast collection can be traced back to the discovery of an ancient statue found in a vineyard near the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Pope Julius II sent respected artists — including Michelangelo himself — to examine the statue. On their recommendation, the pope purchased the piece and placed it on display in the Vatican. As more treasures were uncovered and acquired, construction began on dedicated spaces to properly house and showcase the growing collection.

The Sistine Chapel is what draws many visitors through the long, slow-moving lines of the museum. Though the chapel itself is smaller than I expected, the sense of reverence inside is unmistakable. Visitors instinctively fall quiet as they step in and tilt their heads upward, gazing at the ceiling painted by one of the greatest masters of the Renaissance. Voices drop to whispers, and even breathing seems subdued, as if no one wants to disturb the beauty above. Photography is not allowed, adding to the feeling that this is a moment meant to be experienced, not captured.

Today, the Vatican Museums welcome around seven million visitors each year, all drawn by the opportunity to walk through one of the most extraordinary collections of art and human achievement in the world.

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Saint Peter’s Square

While we waited for our time to enter the basilica, we wandered through St. Peter’s Square. This vast plaza outside St. Peter’s Basilica is a work of art in its own right and has been the setting for grand papal events for centuries. Just a few months earlier, during the appointment of the new pope, thousands of people had filled this square and spilled into the surrounding streets, all waiting to hear the announcement.

The architecture of the plaza is breathtaking. Rows of 284 colonnades curve outward, topped by 140 statues of saints gazing down over the square. Much of the design is credited to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose vision shaped the space into something both monumental and deeply symbolic. At the center stands an ancient Egyptian obelisk, flanked by two fountains. The square’s elliptical layout was intentionally designed to represent the Church’s outstretched arms — a great embrace welcoming the faithful.

During our visit, the square was carefully organized with designated walking paths for pilgrims and protective barriers surrounding the construction of the nativity scene. It was fascinating to see the level of forethought that goes into managing such a sacred space when tens of thousands of people may pass through it in a single day.

Along one side of the square, we spotted members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard standing watch at the side entrances of the basilica. This elite military force is responsible for protecting the pope and the Apostolic Palace. Founded in 1506, the guard is composed of young, unmarried Swiss men who are committed to the Catholic faith and sworn to defend the pope. Their colorful Renaissance-era uniforms make them instantly recognizable, though their training and responsibilities are very much modern.

One sculpture in the square especially caught my attention: a boat crowded with people standing shoulder to shoulder, all facing forward. Considered a symbol of migration and hope, each figure represents a different background, struggle, and story. Yet together, they move forward with shared faith and determination. Surrounded by pilgrims walking miles for the Jubilee Year of Hope, the sculpture felt especially meaningful — a quiet reflection of why so many people had come to this place in the first place.

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Saint Peter’s Basilica

When our time came to enter the basilica, we felt a little giddy — as if we, too, were making a kind of pilgrimage into a space long regarded as the center of the world. The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, more commonly known as St. Peter’s Basilica, is one of the most renowned works of Italian Renaissance architecture. It is not only the largest church in the world, but also considered the holiest of Catholic shrines, often described as the greatest church in all of Christendom.

An older basilica once stood on this site, commissioned by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica began in 1506 and was not completed until 1626. Tradition holds that St. Peter’s Basilica was built over the burial site of Saint Peter, the leading apostle of Jesus. Over the centuries, many popes, cardinals, and bishops have also been laid to rest here. Saint Peter’s tomb lies directly beneath the grand high altar, known as the Altar of the Confession.

From the moment you step inside, it is impossible not to stare in wonder. The scale alone is staggering, but it is the details that truly overwhelm — from the marble floors to the soaring ceilings, every surface is rich with color, symbolism, and craftsmanship. The effect is both humbling and awe-inspiring, as though the space itself demands quiet reflection.

During our visit, visitors were guided along the outer areas of the basilica while Mass was being celebrated in the central nave. Watching the service unfold in such a sacred and historic setting felt deeply moving, even as an observer. For those of the faith, attending Mass here — during the Christmas season and in a Jubilee Year — must be an experience beyond words.

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Basilica of Saint Mary Major

While exploring Rome, we happened upon the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Though we were not on an official pilgrimage through the Holy Doors, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit another of the papal basilicas. This church carries many names — Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Mary Major, Saint Mary the Great, Saint Mary of the Crib, and even Our Lady of the Snows — all honoring the Virgin Mary as the protector and intercessor of the Roman people. It is not only the largest Marian church in Rome, but also the oldest Marian sanctuary in the Western world.

The basilica was built shortly after the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, when Mary was formally proclaimed Theotokos, or Mother of God. Inside, the walls are adorned with scenes from Mary’s life as the mother of Jesus, alongside vivid depictions from the Old Testament. There is a long-held belief that elements of the basilica’s design reflect Mary’s role as a bridge between ancient Rome and the emerging Christian Rome — a connection between the old world and the new faith.

The interior is richly decorated, with a magnificent high altar at its center. What makes this basilica especially unique, however, is the relic believed to be pieces of the crib, or manger, of the infant Jesus. Visitors are able to go beneath the high altar to view this sacred remnant of the Nativity, a quiet and powerful connection to the Christmas story.

In a side nave of the basilica lies the tomb of Pope Francis, who was laid to rest here earlier in 2025. His presence adds yet another layer of meaning to this already deeply significant space, blending centuries of faith, history, and living memory within the walls of Saint Mary Major.

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It was such an interesting and beautiful time to be in Vatican City. Centuries of faith and devotion came together with breathtaking art and architecture, all wrapped in the quiet joy of Christmas trees and nativity scenes. The experience felt especially meaningful being there as devoted pilgrims walked for miles between basilicas, each step an act of faith, while visitors stood in reverent silence contemplating a baby laid in a manger.

Seeing Vatican City is incredible in its own right, but experiencing it during both the Christmas season and a Jubilee Year added a depth and richness that felt truly rare. It was a reminder that this place is not only a monument to history, but a living, breathing center of belief, hope, and tradition.

Thank you for coming along on this visit to Vatican City in a Jubilee Year. May you faith in the divine guide your footsteps.

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