Every 25 years, Rome is the meeting point for all the world’s Catholics. The death of Pope Francis in the midst of the Jubilee Year made participating in these great events even more unforgettable
The Jubilee, or Holy Year, is an event of the Catholic Church with primarily spiritual objectives. Its central purpose is to offer the faithful a special time for the remission of sins and reconciliation with God. It is an invitation to personal conversion, to renew one’s faith, and to deepen prayer. Through practices such as pilgrimage, the passage through the Holy Door, and acts of charity, the Jubilee seeks to inspire inner renewal and to strengthen Christian witness.
Moreover, the Jubilee promotes values of hope, unity, and universal fraternity, with particular attention to social issues, justice, and care for those most in need.
The Youth Jubilee is a key moment that unites faith and commitment. It gathers young people from all over the world, encouraging them to take an active role through dialogue and volunteer work. In this way, the event becomes a tangible experience of fraternity and participation, fostering a future of hope.
The heart of the creative concept lay in merging the grandeur befitting a historic event with the simplicity strongly desired by the Holy See. The challenge was to design an architecture that was monumental yet pure in its lines. Majestic 23-metre-high arches rose as a gesture of ascension — striking but never opulent. Its magnificence lay in the numbers: a 1,400-square-metre stage suspended 5 metres above the ground, sheltered by 88 tonnes of roofing. Yet its soul was in the embrace of its audience: an area of 7,629 seats, including 508 dedicated to inclusivity for people with disabilities and their companions.
Thus, the stage became the event’s defining symbol — a greatness that welcomes, whose simplicity made it a beating heart rather than a distant monument. The event, which included an overnight vigil under the stars, was supported by the largest audio-visual setup ever built worldwide, creating an immersive and truly universal experience.
