2025 Rome & Italy
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Rome & Italy Jubilee Pilgrimage 2025
Firstly, we thank God for the great grace of visiting the Holy Mother Church at the Vatican during this Jubilee Year. We are also grateful to Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Magimay, who accompanied us on this spiritual journey, as well as to our fellow pilgrims who came from different states of Malaysia and even from America.
As part of the Jubilee, we prayerfully walked through the Holy Doors of the Four Major Basilicas—St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls—receiving the indulgences offered during this blessed year.
Throughout the pilgrimage, we paid homage at churches and shrines dedicated to, or housing the relics of, many great saints: St. Cecilia, St. Agnes, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Louis of France, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, St. Padre Pio, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, and the recently canonised St. Carlo Acutis, among many others.
Pilgrims experienced deeply moving moments of prayer and devotion. Some climbed the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) on their knees, others received the Sacrament of Reconciliation at various shrines, and together we sang Down in Adoration Falling at two Eucharistic miracle sites: the Cathedral of Orvieto and the Basilica of Lanciano. These encounters strengthened our faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
A particularly joyful grace was the chance to see Pope Francis up close. Some pilgrims were able to touch him, and one was specially blessed by the Holy Father—an unforgettable moment of consolation.
Yet, beyond the sacred sites, what touched us most was the spirit of love and service among the pilgrims themselves. We witnessed generosity in small and large ways: helping the elderly, carrying bags for the weak, waiting patiently for one another, offering prayer and support when the bus broke down, and remaining calm even when delays or wrong GPS directions led to confusion. Truly, this spirit of fraternity reflected the heart of the Christian pilgrimage.
As we concluded our journey, we were reminded that the greatest treasure of this Jubilee pilgrimage is not only the places we visited, but the spiritual graces we received. By walking through the Holy Doors, making our confessions, participating in the liturgy, and uniting in prayer, we were granted the gift of Jubilee indulgences—a reminder of God’s boundless mercy and the joy of being renewed in faith, hope, and charity.
Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay