Jubilee of the Holy See: A Special Afternoon in a Family Celebration at the Vatican Museums

A family celebration

“I grew up in a small town where contact with the arts was limited to visiting the local museum, whereas here we have an immense heritage spanning from antiquity to the present day.” This is just one of the many comments made from those who visited the Vatican Museums in celebration of the Jubilee of the Holy See on Monday, June 9.

The visit was an opportunity to spend a pleasant and enriching moment in the discovery of art, culture, and history. This was confirmed by those who participated in the special opening of Vatican Museum reserved for clergy, religious, families, and laypeople—employees of the Governorate and the Holy See.

For them the Governorate, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums, offered a free afternoon visit as a gift to all persons employed in the Vatican. Hundreds of visitors took this special opportunity to gather together with their families and admire the centuries old pontifical art collections.

Before the museum opened their doors for the occasion, the Jubilee had begun with a special spiritual journey. That morning, employees had passed through another door—the door of God’s mercy, symbolized by the Holy Door through which one obtains the plenary indulgence.

All had followed Pope Leo XIV who, carrying the Jubilee cross, had led the procession toward the Holy Door from the Paul VI Audience Hall to St. Peter’s Basilica. Followed by Cardinals, Bishops, priests, and lay staff, the Pope then presided over the Eucharistic Concelebration inside St. Peter’s. An atmosphere of tangible communion marked those special moments. After all, the Jubilee evokes an image of celebration and gratitude because sins are forgiven and temporal punishment is remitted. This festive spirit was reflected in the museum visit, including the Sistine Chapel, where the artworks captured the attention of all present and invited reflection on the mysteries of faith and the life of the Son of God, the Virgin Mary his mother, and the blessed Saints.

Why conclude the Jubilee with a visit to the Pope’s museums? Because the majority of the artistic heritage preserved there speaks directly of faith, expressed through the genius and skill of those who poured their creative spirit into their works.

For the employees, it was a journey that allowed them to draw near to, experience, and participate in the faith that inspired the creation of the works now displayed and shared with anyone open to such an experience. Thus, it was a visit that united - in the spirit of celebration - employees from various Dicasteries, institutions and organizations serving the Pope and his mission in the Church and in the world.