Pope asks Rome to welcome foreigners as he closes out 2025
NBC News••world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV concluded the 2025 Holy Year with a New Year’s Eve vespers service at St. Peter’s Basilica, expressing gratitude for the millions of pilgrims who visited Rome during the once-every-quarter-century Jubilee celebration.
- In his homily, Leo thanked the city of Rome and volunteers for managing the large crowds and emphasized Pope Francis’s wish for Rome to be a welcoming place for foreigners and vulnerable populations.
- Leo prayed that Rome would be worthy of its children, elderly, struggling families, and immigrants seeking dignity, highlighting the city’s role as a refuge and symbol of hope.
- The service was attended by Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and other dignitaries, underscoring the event’s significance
