Friday, May 30, marked the start of the Jubilee for Families. It’s a major event bringing together nearly 60,000 parents, children, and grandparents in Rome. Aleteia went to meet them in Piazza Pia, the mandatory starting point for pilgrims planning to pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.
At the end of the Via della Conciliazione, the bells of St. Peter's Basilica ring out to mark nine o'clock. At the other end of the famous avenue, in Piazza Pia, several thousand pilgrims wait patiently before making the short pilgrimage that will take them to the Holy Door.
To pass the time, a group of about 50 Swiss pilgrims from Ticino — the only Italian-speaking canton in Switzerland — began singing “Laudato si',” the famous hymn of St. Francis of Assisi. Among them was Sonia, who came to Rome with her husband and three children for the third time and was delighted to be able to “experience the universal Church” here.
This mother is part of Famiglia in rete, literally “Family Network.” This organization organizes events every year so that Catholic families can get together more often to share their faith.
“For families, it's important to have points of reference, to be able to meet other families who are trying to raise their children with the same values,” she explains.
She adds that she often feels “isolated” as a Catholic in an increasingly secularized society.
“Above all, our families need peace”
In front of the Swiss group, other pilgrims take photos to immortalize the moment. Among them, Father Samuel, from Cameroon, is particularly proud to have brought 50 pilgrims from his country.
“It's an intense moment of prayer, encounter, and spiritual journey,” he explains.
With his group, he has traveled to Assisi in recent days, following in the footsteps of St. Francis, before coming to Rome to begin a tour of the major basilicas.
“We’re joyfully awaiting Mass to receive his blessing,” he says.
At his side, Thérèse, head of family ministry for the Cameroon Bishops' Conference, is delighted to be able to “experience the grace of the Jubilee.”
“In our country, our families need peace above all else, so that they can live in a climate of harmony, without the fratricidal wars that are tearing our regions apart,” she insists.
She explains that she’s praying for the upcoming elections to take place peacefully and bring serenity to Cameroonian families.
“Light, hope, joy, and soap”
In the long line waiting under the summer sun on the Via della Conciliazione is Gabriele, a young scout from Palagonia in Sicily. He came with his family in a group organized by his parish, and thought a little before explaining to us what the Jubilee means to him.
“The Jubilee is light, hope, joy, and soap!” The priest accompanying him bursts out laughing: “Soap is to illustrate forgiveness, which washes away our sins!” he explains.
Gabriele is delighted to be in Rome with his friends, to visit the city and to pass through the holy doors of the major basilicas. He’s eager to attend the Mass celebrated by Leo XIV, whom he finds “very kind.”
The challenge of passing on the faith
Every two minutes, a group heads for the holy door, but the line is long. Behind about 20 groups are the French, the last to arrive. Among them is Gregory, 47, who was ordained a deacon eight months ago for the Diocese of Arras. He too is very happy to meet the new pope on Sunday.
“With this passing of the torch after the death of Pope Francis, we’re both moved and curious to see Pope Leo XIV in the flesh,” he says.
He came with a diocesan group with his wife, but without his children. “They’re coming this summer for the Jubilee for Young People, and since we couldn't come with them, we decided to make our pilgrimage during the Jubilee for Families,” he explains.
For him, the most important challenge for families is that of transmitting the faith.
“As parents and as a deacon, the most important challenge for our families is to succeed in passing on the faith to our children. After that, they’ll do what they want, but we must give them the best of what we believe in, even if it’s not easy in today's society,” he emphasizes.
As Gregory rejoins his group, Brazilian pilgrims begin to walk behind a cross toward the holy door of St. Peter's Basilica, and begin the litany of the saints in Portuguese.
