Joseph Oyewole Oyekunle

The absence of Pope Francis from the public eye due to health concerns has not stopped millions of faithful from every corner of the world from embarking on a spiritual journey to Rome. Instead, the spirit of the pilgrimage has taken on a more profound and personal encounter. Pilgrims enter through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica with rosaries in hand and prayers on their lips.

The Jubilee Year, traditionally celebrated every 25 years, is a special time when the Church invites the faithful to renew their relationship with God, seek reconciliation and obtain indulgences. The Jubilee Year began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Francis and will conclude on the Feast of the Epiphany 2026. This timeframe encourages the faithful to plan their pilgrimages thoughtfully, maximizing the spiritual graces available during this period.

Pope Francis, who proclaimed this Jubilee Year with the theme Pilgrims of Hope, had hoped to participate more fully. However, recent health challenges have slowed him down from public appearances, leaving many pilgrims without the anticipated moment of encountering the Holy Father face to face.

Many pilgrims come to Rome hoping to see Pope Francis, to hear his voice in the Sunday Angelus or to catch a glimpse of his smile during a Wednesday Audience. His humility, joy and prophetic courage have continued to inspired the faithful. His presence gives many a sense of closeness to the universal Church.

However, the role of the pilgrims in this Jubilee is not diminished without Pope’s physical presence. On the contrary, it has deepened. Pilgrims are discovering that walking in faith means journeying not by sight but by trust. It means placing Christ at the center of the pilgrimage even when the Holy Father is not seen.  According to Stacey Gorera, a pilgrim from the United States of America, she states that “Walking through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica was an awesome moment for her and family. Crossing its threshold symbolizes the journey of the soul towards God.”

Perhaps the Holy Father’s absence is one of the hidden graces of this Jubilee Year. It challenges us to ask: Why do we walk? What are we truly seeking? It reminds us that the Pope, though a vital sign of unity, is not the focus of the pilgrimage but Christ.

Fr. John Osho, a priest from Nigeria, states that “Pilgrimage is beyond seeing the face of the Holy Father. Its about having an encounter with Christ through prayer and visits to holy sites.”

Walking in Faith highlights the enduring significance of the pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year, focusing on the spiritual growth of individuals and the communal aspects that bind the faithful together even in the absence of their spiritual leader. Pilgrims are finding renewed meaning in the sacraments, in silence, and in solidarity with sick people. Praying for the intentions of Pope Francis has become a unifying theme at Masses and devotions in the Church.

As the Church journeys through this holy year in the quiet absence of Pope Francis, the faith of the pilgrims has spoken louder than any public address. Their prayers, sacrifices, and journeys across continents reveal a Church that is very much alive not because of who is seen, but because of Who is sought.