Pilgrimage of Students, Faculty, and Staff to Rome

As part of the Holy Jubilee Year taking place in Rome throughout the year, the Jubilee of the World of Education (Giubileo del mondo educativo) was held from 27 October to 1 November 2025, attended by about forty students, faculty members, and staff of the Catholic University of Croatia.

On their way to Rome, the pilgrims first visited Aquileia, an Italian town built on the site of the ancient city of Aquileia, once a major center of Christianity and a bishop’s seat. There, they visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where they celebrated Mass in the baptistery, presided over by Rector Prof. Željko Tanjić, Ph.D. In his homily, Rector Tanjić emphasized: “At this moment, in this place, we are connected through time with the beginnings of Christianity, standing on the shoulders of those who came before us in all things, including faith.” After a short break, the group continued their journey, arriving in Rome in the late afternoon.

The first day in Rome included visits to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, which houses relics of Christ’s Passion; the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the mother and head of all churches in Rome and the world; the Holy Stairs, which pilgrims ascended on their knees in prayer; the Basilica of St. Mary Major; and the famous Trevi Fountain. Thus, on the very first day, they visited two papal basilicas and passed through the Holy Doors, receiving a special grace of the Jubilee. The day concluded with Mass at the Croatian Pontifical College of St. Jerome.

On the second day, the pilgrims visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where they prayed before the tomb of the Church’s greatest missionary, St. Paul, followed by a tour of the remains of ancient Rome—the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill, Church of Aracoeli, Piazza Venezia, and the Altar of the Fatherland. The day once again ended with Mass at St. Jerome’s.

On Friday, the pilgrims attended a papal audience at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The Holy Father met with 15,000 teachers and students on the occasion of the Jubilee of the World of Education and called on educators to connect with the “inner being” of their students, as without such a deep encounter “every educational proposal is doomed to fail.” (The full text of the Pope’s address is available at the link.) After the audience, the pilgrims visited St. Peter’s Basilica, where they prayed the Creed at the tomb of St. Peter and offered intentions for the entire Catholic University of Croatia.

The highlight of the pilgrimage took place on Saturday, 1 November, when Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints at St. Peter’s Square as part of the Jubilee of the World of Education and proclaimed St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. In his homily, the Holy Father said: “Shine like lights in the world, through the authenticity of your commitment in the common search for truth, in sharing it consistently and generously through service to the young, especially the poor, and in daily experience of how Christian love is prophetic and works wonders.”

After Mass, the group continued exploring Rome, visiting the Castel Sant’Angelo, Ponte Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, and the Pincio Gardens.

On the final day, the pilgrims attended Mass in the parish community of St. Sylvester, Pope, in Tivoli, celebrated by Rector Prof. Željko Tanjić, Ph.D. After Mass, they began their journey back to Zagreb, stopping briefly in Orvieto for a short visit.