ROME – As the curtain fell on 2025, Pope Leo XIV offered a heartfelt prayer on Wednesday, envisioning Rome as a hospitable haven for the city’s diverse and vulnerable populations, including the young and the elderly.

Hosting a New Year’s Eve vespers service at St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo expressed gratitude for the 2025 Holy Year. This event attracted millions of pilgrims to Rome, celebrating the faith in this unique, once-every-25-years tradition.

While the Jubilee will officially conclude on January 6, Leo used his homily to commend the city of Rome and the dedicated volunteers who managed the throngs of visitors flowing through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s.

He reminisced that Pope Francis had initiated the Holy Year on December 24, 2024, with a vision of Rome becoming more inclusive. “I hope it continues to be so, and even more so, after this blessed period,” Leo remarked.

“What aspirations do we hold for Rome? That it remains a city worthy of its children. A city that cares for its isolated and frail elderly, supports struggling families, and offers hope to those who have traveled far seeking a life of dignity,” he articulated.

In the pews was Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and other dignitaries.

In addition to the Jubilee, 2025 was momentous because of the papal transition after Francis died in April and cardinals elected history’s first pope from the United States.

The Vatican this week released statistics showing 3.2 million people had participated in Vatican liturgies, audiences, Angelus prayers and Jubilee audiences this year. The numbers were small in the first quarter, given Francis’ long hospitalization and illness, and then greatly shot up after Leo’s May election.

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