Jubilee kicks off: from the opening of the Holy Door to the Tor Vergata rally, here are the highlights of the year

The alert is maximum. On Tuesday, the National Committee for Public Order and Security, chaired by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, decided to increase the presence of the police force in Rome with 700 extra officers every day. They will be used to strengthen the surveillance and control of the territory, particularly at the Vatican and in the historic centre, the basilicas and other sensitive sites. With the multiplication of theatres of war, from Ukraine to the Middle East, the risk of terrorism increases and every gathering becomes a special watch.

The 150-page security plan launched at the beginning of December by the Rome Police Headquarters details the chain of competences that will be deployed throughout the entire Jubilee period, from the peripheral areas to the city centre, along the two lines identified to protect tourists and pilgrims: on the one hand, the control of the territory, starting from the transport hubs (airports, stations and the port of Civitavecchia) and the areas close to the basilicas; on the other hand, the management of events.

There are 62 macro-events considered to be relevant from the point of view of public order and safety, for each of which a special security arrangement will be planned based on the tripartition of the areas involved: the buffer area, the restricted area and the maximum security area, characterised by different and increasing levels of controls. In addition to the deployment of specialised Police and Carabinieri units, the installation of anti-drone stations by the relevant departments of the Armed Forces is also planned. Also in the field is the Cyber Security Centre, which will have the task of the 'virtual' presidium of appointments and the protection of strategic IT infrastructures.

The greatest effort, also in terms of cooperation with the police forces of other countries, is expected for the Youth Jubilee, scheduled from 28 July to 3 August. It will begin with the welcome Mass at St. Peter's on Tuesday 29 July, but the climax will be on Saturday and Sunday at Tor Vergata: at 8.30 p.m. there will be the vigil with Pope Francis, on Sunday at 9.30 a.m. the Mass presided over by the Pontiff. A million girls and boys from all over the world are expected to arrive.

The other delicate moments are the four openings of the Holy Doors of the basilicas (in addition to St Peter's, on Sunday 29 December it will be the turn of St John Lateran, on 1 January St Mary Major and on 5 January St Paul's Outside the Walls: all will remain unopened to make them pilgrimage destinations throughout the year. For this Jubilee, Pope Francis wanted to add another, extraordinary one: that of a prison. The Pontiff will inaugurate it at Rebibbia on 26 December "to offer the inmates a sign of closeness" and give them hope. Finally, each bishop in the globe can designate the main entrance of his cathedral or an equally significant place of worship as a Holy Door to facilitate pilgrimage for those who cannot travel to Rome.

Then there are all the sector Jubilees dedicated to specific groups of the faithful, such as those for the world of communication (24-26 January), the sick and the health care planet (5-6 April), adolescents (25-27 April), people with disabilities (28-29 April), workers (1-4 May), entrepreneurs (4-5 May), families (30 May-1 June), sports (14-15 June), rulers (20-22 June), legal practitioners (20 September), migrants (4-5 October) and on the same dates also the missionary world, prisoners (14 December).

The four Jubilee routes within the city will also be monitored. The first and most important is the Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches, 25 kilometres long, which connects the four papal basilicas, as well as San Lorenzo outside the walls, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and San Sebastiano outside the walls. Then there are other routes: the Way of the Four Basilicas; the Way of the Patronesses of Europe and Doctors of the Church, which involves places of worship such as Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Santa Brigida a Campo dei Fiori, Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Trinità dei Monti and Santa Cecilia in Trastevere; the Iter Europeaeum, dedicated to the churches of the European Union with 28 stages.

According to the indications provided in May by the Apostolic Penitentiary, during the Jubilee "2025 the faithful who are "truly repentant", "moved by a spirit of charity", who "purified through the sacrament of penance and refreshed by Holy Communion," the text reads, "pray according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff" will be able to receive a plenary indulgence. In particular, the indulgence will be granted to those who make a pilgrimage to any sacred Jubilee site, to at least one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, in the Holy Land or in other ecclesiastical districts, and taking part in a moment of prayer, celebration or reconciliation. Then again, "devoutly visiting any Jubilee site" and experiencing Eucharistic adoration, concluding with the Our Father, Profession of Faith and Invocations to Mary. For those who cannot move, it is also worth reciting the same prayers, carrying out "works of mercy and penance" or abstaining "at least for one day from futile distractions (real but also virtual) and from superfluous consumption, as well as donating a proportionate sum of money to the poor, or supporting works of a religious or social character, especially in favour of the defence and protection of life".