Jubilee of Catechists kicks off tomorrow with 20,000 registered pilgrims

The Jubilee of Catechists will be held from September 26 to 28, bringing over 20,000 pilgrims from 115 countries to Rome, with large numbers expected from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Ukraine, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, the Philippines, India, and Australia. The Jubilee event, dedicated to those who daily engage in catechesis, will see the involvement of diocesan and national catechetical offices, and the Episcopal Conferences of various countries.

The Jubilee will begin on the morning of Friday September 26, with catechists' pilgrimages to the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm and will continue with a Prayer Vigil at 6:30 pm inside the Basilica, presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. In the second part of the Liturgy of the Word, focusing on the passage of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33a), three catechists will share their personal stories of service in their local communities: Liliana Russo from Italy, Paulo Agostinho Matica from Mozambique, and Estela Evangelista Torres from Mexico.

On Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 am, catechists will participate in the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square with Pope Leo XIV, who will address the Jubilee pilgrims. In the afternoon, at 4:00 pm, the catechists will gather in various churches in central Rome for catechesis in language groups with their bishops. These will be held in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Polish.

The Jubilee will conclude on Sunday September 28, with a Mass in St. Peter's Square, presided over by the Holy Father at 10:00 am, during which the Pontiff will commission 39 new catechists. The candidates for the lay ministry of catechist, who will each receive a crucifix from the Pope as a sign of their special vocation, come from Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, East Timor, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, the United States, Mozambique, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.