Italy Jubilee 2026: Complete Pilgrim's Guide to Rome, Assisi & the Holy Doors
The Catholic Church's Jubilee Year of Hope runs through 2026, making this one of the most significant years for pilgrimage to Rome in a generation. Simultaneously, 2026 is the Year of St Francis — the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Sun — elevating Assisi alongside Rome as a must-visit destination. This guide covers everything: the Holy Doors, the Four Papal Basilicas, the catacombs, Assisi, Milan's Ambrosian tradition, practical planning, and costs.
What Is the Jubilee 2026 and Why It Matters for Pilgrims
A Jubilee Year (Anno Santo, Holy Year) is a special period of grace declared by the Pope, rooted in the Old Testament tradition of Leviticus 25: "You shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you." The Catholic Church has celebrated Holy Years since Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first in 1300. Since 1475, Ordinary Jubilees have been held every 25 years; this is the 27th.
The 2025–2026 Jubilee, "Year of Hope", was opened by Pope Francis on 24 December 2024 with the ceremonial unsealing of the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica. Its theme is drawn from Romans 5:5: "Hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." An estimated 32 million pilgrims are expected over the full Jubilee period — comparable to the 2000 Great Jubilee under Pope John Paul II.
Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost, elected 2025 — the first pope from the United States) leads the Church during the Jubilee's extended 2026 phase and has continued to encourage pilgrimage to Rome as a central act of Christian renewal. His election adds a new chapter to the Jubilee's story, and Rome in 2026 carries a sense of historical transition alongside the ancient rhythms of pilgrimage.
The Four Papal Basilicas and the Holy Doors: A Detailed Guide
The Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome centres on visiting the four great basilicas and passing through their Holy Doors in a spirit of repentance and renewal. No ticket, fee, or registration is required for the Holy Doors themselves — they are open to all who approach with faith. The traditional sequence begins at St Peter's and continues to San Giovanni, Santa Maria Maggiore, and San Paolo — though any order is spiritually valid.
Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano (St Peter's)
Apostolic Tomb · First Holy DoorThe largest church in Christendom stands over the confirmed tomb of the Apostle Peter. The current basilica — designed by Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini over more than a century — replaced Constantine's original 4th-century basilica. Key sites for pilgrims: the Confessio (sunken shrine directly over Peter's tomb), Michelangelo's Pietà (1499), the bronze statue of St Peter worn smooth by centuries of touch, Bernini's baldachin and colonnaded piazza, and the Holy Door on the right side of the main portico — the first to be unsealed and the last to be resealed in every Jubilee Year.
The Vatican Necropolis beneath the basilica contains the aedicule (original shrine) over what excavations in the 20th century confirmed as Peter's burial site. The Confessio level is free and open during basilica hours; the full Necropolis tour (Scavi) must be booked at ufficioscavi.va and is limited to approximately 250 visitors per day.
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Cathedral of Rome · Second Holy DoorSan Giovanni in Laterano is — in Catholic theology — the "mother and head of all churches of Rome and the world." It is the Pope's cathedral as Bishop of Rome, pre-dating St Peter's by a thousand years. Founded by Emperor Constantine in 313 AD, it was the undisputed centre of Western Christianity through the medieval period. The current Baroque interior (rebuilt by Borromini, 1646–1660) is spectacular; the 5th-century apse mosaic, the reliquary chapel holding the skulls of Saints Peter and Paul, and the adjacent Lateran Baptistery — the oldest in the Western world — are all significant pilgrimage stops.
Directly across the piazza stands the Scala Sancta (Holy Staircase) — 28 marble steps said to have been brought from Pilate's Praetorium in Jerusalem. Tradition holds that Christ descended these steps after his condemnation. Pilgrims ascend them on their knees in prayer, as the Church has taught since the 4th century.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Marian Shrine · Third Holy DoorThe greatest Marian basilica in Rome sits atop the Esquiline Hill and is the only major Roman basilica to preserve its original 5th-century nave mosaics — 27 panels depicting Old Testament scenes — essentially intact. The coffered ceiling, gilded with the first gold brought from the New World (a gift from Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain), and the Baroque Sistina and Paolina chapels frame the main altar with extraordinary splendour.
The Salus Populi Romani icon — a medieval image of the Virgin and Child venerated for centuries as protector of Rome — is enshrined in the Paolina Chapel and was particularly beloved by Pope Francis, who visited it before and after every major papal journey. The crypt contains the relic of the holy crib (relics of the manger from Bethlehem). Santa Maria Maggiore is a centrepiece of both the Jubilee circuit and the Marian pilgrimage route through Italy.
Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura
Apostolic Tomb · Fourth Holy DoorThe Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls stands over the confirmed tomb of the Apostle Paul. The original Constantinian basilica (completed under Theodosius I, 395 AD) was largely destroyed by fire in 1823 and rebuilt in the 19th century, giving it the most recently-built interior of the four basilicas. Yet the atmosphere is deeply devotional: beneath the high altar, a grille allows pilgrims to see the 2nd-century white marble sarcophagus inscribed "Paulo Apostolo Mart." — Paul the Apostle Martyr. Excavations confirmed in the 20th century that this is the saint's burial site.
A mosaic portrait medallion of every pope encircles the nave interior — a dramatic visible history of the papacy from Peter to the present. The Cosmatesque cloister (13th century) is one of the finest in Rome. The basilica's position beyond the Aurelian walls means it is rarely as crowded as St Peter's.
The Plenary Indulgence: What It Is and How to Receive It
A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. The Jubilee plenary indulgence is one of the most complete acts of spiritual restoration the Church offers. To receive it, a Catholic pilgrim must fulfil four conditions in a spirit of sincere contrition — not as a checklist, but as a coherent act of conversion:
- Sacramental confession — within approximately 20 days before or after the pilgrimage work. One confession can cover multiple indulgences.
- Reception of Holy Communion — on the day of, or shortly before or after, the pilgrimage work.
- Prayer for the Pope's intentions — traditionally an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
- The Jubilee work itself — passing devoutly through a Holy Door of one of the four papal basilicas; or performing an approved alternative act (works of mercy, visiting a designated sacred site in one's home diocese, etc.).
English-speaking confessors are available most mornings at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare (near Piazza Navona) and inside St Peter's Basilica. For non-Catholic Christians, the external pilgrimage — visiting the apostolic tombs, the catacombs, and Rome's early Christian churches — carries profound devotional value entirely on its own terms.
Rome's Early Christian Sites: Catacombs, Basilica of Santa Sabina & Tre Fontane
Beyond the four basilicas, Rome contains some of the earliest surviving Christian sites in the world — catacombs, martyria, and churches that pre-date any medieval embellishment. These are among the most moving destinations on any pilgrim's itinerary.
Catacombs of the Via Appia Antica
The underground cemeteries along the Via Appia Antica are the burial places of thousands of early Christians, including multiple popes and martyrs of the 2nd–5th centuries. The Catacomb of Callixtus is the largest and most historically significant: it contains the Crypt of the Popes (nine third-century popes), the Crypt of Saint Cecilia (where her remains were found in 820 AD), and over 20 km of tunnels on four levels. The Catacomb of Priscilla, on the Via Salaria in the north of the city, is considered the oldest — it contains some of the earliest known images of the Madonna and Child and an image of the Eucharistic banquet that may date to the 2nd century. Both are managed by religious institutes and accessible only through guided tours.
Alongside these, the Catacomb of San Sebastiano (Via Appia, adjacent to Callixtus) is associated with a tradition that the bodies of the Apostles Peter and Paul were temporarily moved here during the Valerian persecution of 258 AD — grafitti found in the tunnels address prayers to both apostles. The site includes a 4th-century basilica and early Christian frescoes.
Basilica di Santa Sabina — Rome's Oldest Intact Basilica
On the Aventine Hill overlooking the Tiber, Santa Sabina (422–432 AD) is the best-preserved early Christian basilica in Rome — almost entirely unaltered since the 5th century. Its wooden door panels (late 5th century) include one of the earliest known depictions of the Crucifixion in Christian art. The church has belonged to the Dominican Order since 1222 and contains the tomb of St Dominic's early companion, Munio of Zamora. The Aventine is also home to the Knights of Malta Priory, where the famous keyhole frames a perfect view of St Peter's dome.
Practical: Open daily 08:15–12:30 and 15:30–18:00. Free. 15-min walk from Circo Massimo (Metro B).
Tre Fontane — Where Paul Was Martyred
The Abbey of Tre Fontane (Three Fountains), south of San Paolo fuori le Mura, marks the traditional site of the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul. Tradition holds that when Paul was beheaded (c.67 AD), his head bounced three times, and a spring rose at each spot — giving the location its name. The three churches on the site — San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (where the beheading occurred), Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio, and Santa Maria Scala Coeli — form a tranquil Cistercian complex away from the city's tourist crowds. The monks produce artisanal chocolate, herbal liqueurs, and eucalyptus products.
Practical: Open daily 07:30–12:30 and 14:30–18:00. Free. Bus 761 from the Basilica di San Paolo; or 25-min walk south from the basilica.
Assisi: Year of Saint Francis 2026
Assisi in Umbria is inseparable from the 2026 pilgrimage year. The 800th anniversary of Francis composing the Canticle of the Sun (c.1225–1226) — the first great work of Italian literature, and one of the most celebrated Christian prayers of creation — makes Assisi an essential companion to Rome. Trains from Rome Termini to Assisi take approximately 2 hours 20 minutes (change at Foligno). One night in Assisi is strongly recommended over a day trip: the town at dusk and dawn, after tour groups have gone, has a quality of silence that pilgrims consistently describe as unlike anywhere else in Italy.
Basilica di San Francesco
The double basilica built immediately after Francis's canonisation in 1228 is the heart of Assisi. The Lower Basilica (1228–1230), dim and intimate, houses the tomb of Francis in the crypt — a plain stone sarcophagus recovered from hiding in 1818. Remarkable frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini surround the nave. The Upper Basilica (1230–1253) is bright and soaring — Giotto's celebrated 28-panel fresco cycle depicting the life of Francis (c.1297–1300) covers the nave and is among the foundational works of Western art. Both basilicas are free and open to all; modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is required.
Basilica di Santa Chiara
The Gothic basilica built over the burial site of St Clare (1253–1265) preserves her incorrupt remains in a glass reliquary in the crypt — a powerful and intimate experience. Most significantly for pilgrims, the original San Damiano Crucifix — before which Francis heard the voice of Christ saying 'Go and repair my Church' in 1205 — is enshrined in the right transept. This crucifix is the object associated with Francis's conversion and the founding impulse of the Franciscan movement. The adjacent Oratorio di San Francesco Piccolino, barely larger than a closet, marks the traditional room where Francis was born.
Porziuncola — Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli
On the plain below Assisi, the vast 16th-century Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli encloses the Porziuncola — the tiny Romanesque chapel (c.9m × 4m) that Francis repaired with his own hands around 1208 and made the physical heart of his movement. It was here that Francis founded the Franciscan Order, here that St Clare took her vows, and here that Francis died on 3 October 1226. The contrast between the intimate ancient chapel and the vast baroque church surrounding it is striking. The adjacent rose garden, said to grow thornless roses because Francis threw himself into the thorns in an act of penance, is a place of remarkable stillness.
Eremo delle Carceri
A 30-minute uphill walk (or 10-min drive) above Assisi, the Eremo delle Carceri is a small hermitage built around the caves where Francis and his early companions would retreat for extended periods of prayer. The site retains a genuine sense of solitude: ancient oak forest, stone cells, a ravine, and the cave where Francis is said to have preached to birds. The Franciscan friars still live here, and their Liturgy of the Hours can be attended in the tiny chapel. This is the most austere and authentically Franciscan of all the Assisi sites — recommended for any pilgrim who can manage the walk.
Milan: The Ambrosian Tradition
Milan is not a pilgrimage city in the same way as Rome or Assisi, but it carries a theological significance that serious pilgrims should not overlook. St Ambrose (340–397 AD) — bishop of Milan, doctor of the Church, teacher of Augustine, and one of the four original Doctors of the Western Church — gave Milan its own liturgical rite (the Ambrosian Rite) that survives to this day in the Archdiocese of Milan and is one of only a small number of ancient Western rites still in regular liturgical use.
Key Sites in Milan
- Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio (387 AD): One of the oldest churches in Milan, founded by Ambrose himself and consecrated in 387 AD. Ambrose is buried in the crypt alongside martyrs Gervasius and Protasius whose remains he discovered in 386 AD — the discovery that ignited his conflict with the Empress Justina. The mosaic portrait of Ambrose in the sacellum of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro is the only near-contemporary image of the saint (c.386 AD).
- Duomo di Milano: The Gothic Cathedral of Milan — begun in 1386 and substantially completed only in the 19th century — is the third largest church in the world. The relics of St Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), the reforming cardinal archbishop of Milan, are in a glass coffin in the Treasury. Roof walk available by ticket.
- Leonardo's Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano): Painted by Leonardo da Vinci for the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie (1495–1498). Though not strictly a pilgrimage site, the depiction of the moment "one of you will betray me" (John 13:21) is among the most theologically studied images in Christian art. Strictly limited to 25 visitors at 15-minute intervals — book months ahead at vivaticket.com.
Practical Planning: When to Go, Pilgrim Credential, Accommodation & Costs
When to Go
Comfortable temperatures (14–22 °C), spring light, Holy Week liturgies in Rome (Easter 5 April 2026). Book accommodation 4–6 months ahead for Easter week.
Warm and settled; noticeably fewer crowds than summer. All sites fully open. Ideal for combining Rome with Assisi and southern Italy.
Hot (30–35 °C) and very crowded. Vatican Museums queues reach 2–3 hours without advance booking. Early starts essential.
Cool (5–12 °C in January), thin crowds, all basilicas and Holy Doors open year-round. Lower accommodation prices. Best for a contemplative pilgrimage.
The Pilgrim Credential (Libretto del Pellegrino)
The Jubilee pilgrim credential is the passport of the pilgrimage, stamped at each basilica and significant site visited. In Rome, stamps (timbri) are available at the information offices and sacristies of all four papal basilicas. In Assisi, stamps are available at the basilicas and the main Franciscan sites. Collecting stamps is a devotional practice rather than a bureaucratic requirement, but it creates a tangible record of the pilgrimage and is particularly meaningful when the credential is kept as a memento. The credential can be obtained at the Pilgrim Office in Rome (Piazza Pio XII, near St Peter's Square), at pilgrim information centres at all four basilicas, or — in many dioceses — from one's own bishop's office before departure.
Accommodation
- Rome — pilgrim hostels (ostelli del pellegrino): Set up for Jubilee 2025 and continuing through 2026 in parishes across the city. Beds from approx €25 per night. Book through the official Jubilee portal (iubilaeum2025.va).
- Rome — religious houses: Casa di Santa Brigida (Piazza Farnese), Domus Internationalis Paulus VI (near Vatican), Casa del Pellegrino run by various parishes — rooms typically €45–80 per person including breakfast. Peaceful, central, and used by pilgrimage groups.
- Rome — commercial hotels: Budget options around Termini station from €60–90/night. Mid-range near the Vatican from €120–180. Premium areas (Trastevere, Navona) from €150–250.
- Assisi — Casa del Pellegrino di Assisi: Operated by the Franciscans adjacent to the Basilica of San Francesco. €35–65 per person; meals available. Reserve at casadelpellegrino.com — book early for 2026.
- Assisi — agriturismo: The Umbrian countryside around Assisi offers farmhouse accommodation from €50–80 per person — quieter than the town and excellent for longer stays.
Estimated Costs
| Item | Approx Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 papal basilicas (Holy Doors) | Free | No entry fee; donations welcome |
| Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel | €17–30 | Book 4–6 weeks ahead; guided tours extra |
| Vatican Necropolis (Peter's Tomb) | €13–15 | Book months ahead; very limited places |
| Catacombs (per catacomb) | ~€8 | Guided tour only; book online for Jubilee season |
| Assisi — all Franciscan sites | Free | Donations and candles optional |
| Rome Metro day pass | €7 (48 hr) | Covers Lines A and B |
| Rome → Assisi train (return) | €20–35 | Via Foligno; book on trenitalia.com |
| Rome pilgrim hostel (per night) | From €25 | Book via iubilaeum2025.va |
| Assisi Casa del Pellegrino | €35–65 | Per person; reserve well ahead for 2026 |
Getting to Italy
- Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO — Fiumicino): Rome's main international airport, 30 km southwest of the city. The Leonardo Express runs direct to Roma Termini every 15 minutes (32 min, approx €14). Fixed taxi fare to central Rome approx €55.
- Ciampino (CIA): Low-cost carriers (Ryanair). Bus to Termini 45–60 min; approx €5–7.
- By train within Italy: Frecciarossa high-speed: Milan → Rome 2h 55min; Florence → Rome 1h 30min; Naples → Rome 1h 10min. Excellent for multi-city pilgrimages.
Explore Italy's Pilgrimage Sites
Rome and Assisi are the heart of the 2026 pilgrimage, but Italy also holds the relics of St Nicholas in Bari, the Shroud of Turin, and the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage road. Explore our destination guides.