Canadian Catholic travel agencies know Jubilee 2025 is momentous and are adjusting pilgrimage slates for the year accordingly.

Steven Skoczek of the Mississauga, Ont.-based QS Travel and Tours Inc. told The Catholic Register his team has 17 sojourns to Rome and Vatican City planned compared to the usual six to eight in non-Jubilee years

“For Catholics, the holy doors are very important,” said Skoczek. “It symbolizes entering into a state of salvation and grace. It also allows pilgrims to receive a plenary indulgence.”

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Pope Francis opened four major holy doors in Rome, located at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The 88-year-old pontiff also historically opened a holy door at Rebibbia Prison on Dec. 26. 

The theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Connaissance Travel and Tours, headquartered in Toronto, is offering 16 pilgrimages to the City of Seven Hills. CEO Vincent Veerasuntharam plans to cross the Atlantic himself a “minimum 10 times.”

“This is a global invitation to the Catholics to confirm their faith going through the holy doors,” said Veerasuntharam. “(The Vatican) does expect more than 30 million Catholics to come. This is very exciting for the entire world, but also especially the Catholics.”

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International Heritage Tours of Vaughan, Ont., which specializes in offering customized faith-based pilgrimages for both Catholics and Protestants, is taking “15-20 groups” to Rome, said tour manager Stan Kwadrans.

Though agencies “did not know the extent of the celebrations” and were “kind of working in darkness,” Kwadrans said that itineraries are being nimbly adjusted “for people who want to take advantage of the special celebration of this holy year and the opening of the holy doors.”

Veerasuntharam said the Catholics who are going to Rome this year are not merely seeking to visit some historical sites. There is something deeper at work driving many pilgrims.

“Today we are facing some global instability, humanitarian crisis, political uncertainty,” said Veerasuntharam. “Today people of the Catholic Church turn to spirituality and pilgrimage for meaning. So, pilgrimage is as an act of resistance. It's no longer just about visiting sites, it's a declaration of faith in a fractured world.”

There are various Jubilee celebrations scheduled throughout the year for Catholics of various professions, vocations, religious communities, lay movements, age demographics and more. In the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday (April 20), there will be Jubilee events oriented for artists (Feb. 15-18), deacons (Feb. 21-23), volunteers (March 8-9), priests instituted as missionaries of mercy (March 28-30), as well as for the sick and their health- care workers (April 5-6).

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The Jubilee of Teenagers (April 25-27) and Youth (July 28-Aug. 3) have particularly captured attention in Canada as various dioceses, youth and young adult groups are planning on sending contingents to Rome for these special occasions. The Jubilee of Teenagers coincides with the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis on April 27, and the Jubilee of Youth culminates with the canonization of Italian Catholic activist Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Skoczek, Veerasuntharam and Kwadrans are all urging Catholics who feel called to Rome this year to arrange their trip soon as it won’t be long until all spots are booked.