Malta
Extend Your Jubilee Year Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 to The Maltese Islands
His Holiness Pope Francis declared 2025 a year of Jubilee, from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026. Jubilee years happen every 25 years. The theme of the 2025 Jubilee year is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Malta, an archipelago in the Mediterranean, a 90-minute flight (approx.) from Rome and just a ferry ride from Sicily (approx. 52.1 nautical miles), presents the perfect opportunity to extend one’s Jubilee Year Pilgrimage and explore the historic relationship between the Maltese Islands and the Christian faith.
Steeped in 8,000 years of history, the Maltese Islands have three UNESCO World Heritage sites including Valletta, the Capital. Malta’s ties with Christianity date back to when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the archipelago’s shores, accompanied by Saint Luke. Today, pilgrims visiting the archipelago will still find fervent Christian devotion, and in fact, in 2023, Malta officially became a part of the traditional Pilgrimage Route, Camino de Santiago.
Special Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope 2025 Events in Malta
The Archdiocese of Malta is organizing various programs related to Pilgrims of Hope 2025, including liturgical celebrations. Also, the Archdiocese has designated the Melita Mariana Pilgrimage dedicated to Marian devotions in Malta throughout the ages, as the Jubilee Year pilgrimage and is encouraging pilgrims to venture out on the routes. Melita Mariana is a collaborative effort between XirCammini, VisitMalta, Heritage Malta, and XirCammini members and volunteers and aims to explore religious and historical aspects through a 3-day, 60km (approx. 37 miles) pilgrimage encompassing ancient, old, and recent Marian devotions across Malta and Gozo. Melita Mariana can be walked on one’s own as a self-guided tour, but group pilgrimages will also be organized.
