It’s Christmas Eve. Rome, especially at night, when traffic, chaos, and human hustle fade away, becomes beautiful and infinite once again. This year’s lights are grandiose: energy-saving measures and sustainability give way to the magnificence of the season. Today, Pope Francis inaugurates the Jubilee in the brand-new Piazza Pia.
However, the atmosphere is far from ideal: the city is shaken by the death of a mother, killed by a falling tree in front of her daughters. Perhaps it was a forewarning, but today the newspapers are filled with reports about the poor condition of Rome’s trees. Mayor Gualtieri, before delving into the liturgy, must deal with a significant secular issue.
So far, in fact, the Jubilee has only been discussed in secular terms. What chaos with all those construction sites! Crozza, mimicking the mayor to the letter, made us bitterly laugh about the fact that, until recently, only 3 out of 203 construction projects had been completed. Then there’s the anxiety over what many call “overtourism”—an excess of tourists. It’s estimated that in 2025, 32 million visitors will come to Rome, generating around 4 billion euros in revenue. And yet, fewer and fewer people seem to scoff at these numbers.
There’s also the issue of security, especially after what happened in Germany. And what about the spiritual meanings? The ones for the Christian and Catholic world? Will this truly be the Jubilee of hope in a year that fades into another, yet with dramatic conflicts still unresolved? Beyond simplistic, non-messianic prophecies about Trump’s return?
And what about the theme of equality? Of care for the poor, the marginalized, and the ever-growing number of unequal people in our democracies? Philosopher Cacciari claims that the Gospel is silent today, while others argue that the human heart still listens.
Tonight, we will pass through that door, with the necessary hope for a better world. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen on January 1st. But we must think it and think of ourselves this way, if we truly want this Nativity and this Jubilee to embody hope. Beyond the cars, the hotels, the trees, and the wild boars. With all due respect!
