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The crisp winter air over St. Peter's Square carried more than just the scent of incense this morning. As the first dawn of 2025 broke over Rome, Pope Francis stepped forward to perform a ritual that only happens every 25 years - knocking three times on the Holy Door with a silver hammer, officially beginning the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year.
For non-religious travelers, this is still the cultural event of the decade. The opening ceremony saw the 16th-century bronze doors - normally cemented shut - swing inward to reveal a tunnel of golden light leading into St. Peter's Basilica. Pilgrims from Nigeria to Nebraska wept as they passed through, but what really caught our eye were the security guards discreetly wiping their eyes.
New for 2025: The Vatican's high-tech "Jubilee Pass" system (think Disney FastPass for salvation) lets you reserve specific time slots online. But the real insider move? Visit at 6 AM when the Swiss Guards change shifts - you'll have the Holy Door virtually to yourself.
Walk Through History in Comfort
With millions expected, smart travelers book early. PrestigeFly (www.prestigefly.com) offers Jubilee Packages featuring business class flights on American Airlines' direct Dallas-Rome route and VIP access to the Vatican Museums before public hours. Our "Pilgrim's Privilege" add-on includes a private after-hours tour of the Scavi necropolis beneath St. Peter's.
