The Jubilee of Over 3,600 Knights and Dames from Around the World
From October 21 to 23, 2025, the international jubilee pilgrimage of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre brought together more than 3,600 Knights and Dames from every continent. The Governor General, the four Vice Governors General (Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Latin America), along with numerous Lieutenants, led the Order’s pilgrims throughout the three days of the Order’s pilgrimage. On behalf of all the Order’s Knights and Dames, the Grand Master presented the Holy Father with an icon of Our Lady of Palestine, specially crafted for him in the Holy Land.
"You have come to Rome from various parts of the world, and this reminds us that the practice of pilgrimage is at the origin of your history. You were born, in fact, to guard the Holy Sepulchre, to take care of pilgrims and to support the Church of Jerusalem," said Pope Leo XIV to the over 3,600 Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre who came on a jubilee pilgrimage to Rome.
The Holy Father received the Knights and Dames on October 23, in the Paul VI Audience Hall during the third day of their pilgrimage. This meeting was followed shortly after with the celebration of Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, which brought them together alongside their Grand Master, Cardinal Fernando Filoni. The Holy Father expressed particular gratitude for the remarkable support the Order offers to the communities of the Holy Land, “which you do quietly and without fanfare, […] supporting the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in its various endeavours. These include the Seminary, the schools, charitable and welfare initiatives, humanitarian and educational projects, the University, aid to the Churches with particular interventions during times of acute crisis, as was the case during the Covid pandemic and in the tragic days of war”.
On behalf of the 30,000 members of this pontifical institution, who are the men and women, mostly laypeople, spread across more than 40 countries, and represented by pilgrims from all continents, Cardinal Filoni presented the Pope with an icon of the Order’s patroness, Our Lady of Palestine (whose feast is celebrated annually October 25). The icon was specially crafted for him in the Holy Land by a religious sister of the Congregation of the Monastic Sisters of Bethlehem
“The Virgin Mary bore a son, who died and rose again for us. But she also holds a little girl in her arms in this icon”, remarked the Grand Master as he presented the Marian image to the Pope. “This little girl, represented by the Holy City of Jerusalem, is the universal Church that we all form together”, Cardinal Filoni added in essence, prompting a warm smile from Peter’s successor, whose words of encouragement just moments earlier had deeply moved all the Knights and Dames.
“The Church today once again entrusts you with the mission of being guardians of the Sepulchre of Christ. Be so, in the trust of waiting, in the zeal of charity, and in the joyful impulse of hope”, he said to them before offering his blessing, in an atmosphere of joyful fraternity and renewed confidence.
It is this spirit of selfless service, evoked by the Holy Father, which the Knights and Dames sought to cultivate throughout their pilgrimage. They were spiritually renewed in the four papal basilicas, where they received the plenary indulgence by passing through the Holy Door. They did this either for themselves or for those departed, and received the sacrament of reconciliation from the priests who were present.
St Paul Outside the Walls
The pilgrims were welcomed at their accommodation in Rome on Tuesday, October 21, by members of the Grand Magisterium’s staff. Then, the participants in the jubilee pilgrimage took part that same afternoon in the opening Mass of the pilgrimage at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, which was presided over by the Grand Master.
As the pilgrims passed through the Holy Door, they reflected on the meaning of their commitment in this basilica, where the relics of Saint Paul’s chains are venerated. It was he who held dear the mission among peoples and the support of the Church in Jerusalem. During the celebration, as they listened to Cardinal Fernando Filoni’s homily, each pilgrim was able to renew their personal encounter with the Lord, in order to continue serving as apostles of peace, reconciliation, and compassion.
Eager, like all pilgrims of the 2025 Jubilee, to “become pilgrims of hope” (1 Tim 1:1), rooted in the charity of Christ, the members of the Order once again mobilised to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:14–18).
St John Lateran
On the following day, Wednesday October 22, the pilgrims of the Order passed through the Holy Door of the Basilica of St John Lateran. According to tradition, this basilica houses the wooden altar of the Apostle Peter. Following his profession of faith and Christ’s affirmation of the Petrine primacy (Matthew 16:13-19), the prince of the apostles offered his life for the Church, who -as Cardinal Filoni recalled in his homily- is “a communion of persons united by faith in Jesus and in his revelation, the space where the transcendent mystery of God meets each one of us and encounters our world”.
In this spirit, the Grand Master urged the pilgrims to allow God to renew within them faith, hope, and charity, in accordance with the principles set out in the Order’s Constitution: personal renunciation, generosity towards their local Churches and the Church in the Holy Land, as an expression of their shared concern with the Pope for maintaining a Christian presence in the places where Christ lived and gave his life.
As they admired the apse mosaics depicting the mystery of the New Jerusalem, the pilgrims reflected on the Grand Master’s teaching that the vocation of the Order’s members is the building of a spiritual edifice (1 Pet 2:4–5, 9–10), through dialogue and reconciliation among all peoples of the Holy Land (2 Cor 5:19).
Santa Maria Maggiore
On the afternoon of October 22, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre’s jubilee pilgrimage continued with the passage through the Holy Door of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This Basilica was built in the 4th century in accordance with the will of the Virgin Mary, as expressed to Pope Liberius. It was consecrated for worship by Pope Sixtus III following the Council of Ephesus in 431, which affirmed Mary’s divine motherhood, signifying that the mystery of the Incarnation opens the way to salvation.
According to tradition, the relic of the Holy Crib is preserved in this basilica, earning it the title “the Bethlehem of the West”. The Dames and Knights recalled that, from their mother’s womb (Ps 22), they are children and heirs, thanks to the Spirit who inspires them to call God “Abba, Father” (Gal 4:4–7), following Christ and believing in him.
Strengthened by this supernatural experience, they joined in prayer with the “fiat” of the Mother of God before the mosaics of the Annunciation, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Adoration of the Magi. In procession, behind the Grand Master and the Governor General, the pilgrims prayed the Rosary in silence, pausing for a few moments before the icon of Salus Populi Romani, attributed to Saint Luke and so dear to the heart of Pope Francis, whose mortal remains now rest in this basilica.
St Peter’s Basilica
On October 23, more than 3,600 Knights and Dames, having attended the papal audience granted to them by Pope Leo XIV, walked in procession from the Paul VI Hall to the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, before taking part in the Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Grand Master.“Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia”—“Where Peter is, there is the Church”: with this phrase from Saint Ambrose, Cardinal Filoni once again affirmed the active participation of the Order’s members in the Pope’s concern for supporting the Church in the Holy Land.
Before the taking of a group photo, Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Governor General and chief organiser of this historic event, addressed all participants, confrères, and friends of the Order. “I thank you for the devotion with which you took part in the various stages across the four Roman basilicas, and also for the patience with which you faced a few inconveniences. Coordinating the participation of almost 3,700 pilgrims from around the world was no easy task, but I hope you will carry with you fond memories of these days in Rome, which have strengthened us in our faith and in our love for the Holy Land”.
Gazing upon the majestic statue of Saint Helena, who championed the construction of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, the pilgrims invoked her silently, to ask her to intercede through the Virgin Mary so that seemingly insurmountable situations in the Holy Land might find paths to hopeful resolution. After these three days of spiritual renewal in God, the Pilgrims parted with enthusiasm, while exchanging contact details, promising to pray for one another, and committing to remain in touch in order to ever more faithfully support the Mother Church of Jerusalem.
Among the pilgrims, Julio Menchù, a Knight from Guatemala, gave his testimony on camera at the conclusion of the pilgrimage, stating, “Our model is Saint Bartolo Longo, canonised by the Pope on October 19. A Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, he bore abundant fruit around him through his love for Mary. This is our commitment!”
François Vayne
(October 27, 2025)
