Pope Leo XIV concluded the Catholic Church’s Holy Year on Tuesday with a heartfelt appeal to Christians globally, urging them to extend help to those in need and to show compassion towards foreigners.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Leo has consistently emphasized the significance of supporting immigrants. During a ceremony at the Vatican, he reflected on the historic influx of 33.5 million pilgrims to Rome during the Holy Year, suggesting that this experience should teach people to view others as more than just “commodities.”

“Our surroundings are shaped by an economy that seeks to capitalize on everything,” Leo remarked. “After this year, can we better identify a pilgrim in the traveler, a seeker in the stranger, or a friend in the outsider?”

Traditionally, Holy Years, also known as jubilees, occur every 25 years, marking a period dedicated to peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. During these times, pilgrims visiting Rome have the unique opportunity to pass through special “Holy Doors” at four major basilicas and participate in papal gatherings throughout the year.

Holy years, or jubilees, typically happen every 25 years, considered to be a time of peace, forgiveness and pardon. Pilgrims to Rome can enter special “Holy Doors” at four Rome basilicas and attend papal audiences throughout the year.

Leo shut the special bronze door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday morning, which officially marked the end of the Holy Year.

The next Holy Year is not expected before 2033, when the Catholic Church may hold a special one to mark 2,000 years since the death of Jesus.

Pope Leo XIV said the record pilgrims who visited Rome during the Holy Year should have learned not to treat people as mere “products.” (Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images))

On Monday, the Vatican and Italian officials said pilgrims to Rome for the 2025 jubilee came from 185 countries, with the majority from Italy, the U.S., Spain, Brazil and Poland.

The 2025 jubilee was opened by the late Pope Francis, who died in April, and closed by Leo, who was elected in May, making him the first American pope.

It was a historical rarity not seen in 300 years for it to be opened by one pope and closed by another. The last jubilee held under two different popes was in the year 1700, when Innocent XII opened the Holy Year that was then closed by Clement XI.

Pope Leo XIV shut the special bronze door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday morning, which officially marked the end of the Holy Year. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Leo, who has promised to keep Francis’ signature policies such as welcoming gay Catholics and discussing women’s ordination, echoed his predecessor’s frequent criticisms of the global economic system during his remarks on Tuesday.

The markets “turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling and beginning again into a mere business,” Leo said.