91暗网

Early in the morning on Aug. 6, 2025, 33 91暗网 pilgrims鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff, and clergy鈥攁rrived at St. Peter鈥檚 Square in Vatican City. They joined Catholics from around the world who had flocked to Rome for an audience with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.

鈥�91暗网 was welcomed officially at St. Peter鈥檚 Square, and all of our students cheered and clapped,鈥� shared Milton Javier Bravo, Ph.D., vice president for mission and identity. 鈥淲e got very close to the Popemobile as the pope came by. One of our students, Collin Ambush, 鈥�28, held up an American flag, and Pope Leo saw it and gave a thumbs-up, which was really special.鈥�

Led by 尝辞测辞濒补鈥檚 Mission and Identity division and Campus Ministry team, the pilgrimage was made during the , a time to re-establish one鈥檚 proper relationship with God. The trip was made possible through funds created through a generous gift from the late J. Gordon Erberts, 鈥�49.

鈥淭he Jubilee Year is a tradition that takes place in the Catholic Church every 25 years,鈥� explained Bravo. 鈥淚t's an opportunity to participate in meaningful religious practices, such as attending the Sacrament of Confession, praying for the Pope鈥檚 monthly prayer intention, and of course journeying in pilgrimage towards one of the Holy Doors that are open during the year of the Jubilee.鈥�

The Loyola pilgrims鈥� journey began on Aug. 5, when they arrived in Rome and traveled to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus for a tour and a private Mass. At the Catacombs, they prayed for Loyola, the community, and the martyrs and early Christians buried there. 

鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity to feel connected to the Catholic Church鈥攂oth around the world and across generations,鈥� said Emily Kane, 鈥�14, director of campus ministry. 鈥淐elebrating Mass in places such as the catacombs of St. Calixtus, where thousands of early Christians were secretly buried to avoid persecution, and in the actual rooms of St. Ignatius, where he lived and died, helped me feel deeply rooted in and connected to a lasting tradition that spans thousands of years.鈥�

The pilgrims then continued to the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the first of four Holy Doors they would enter during their sacred journey, where they prayed at the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle. In the coming days, they also passed through the Holy Doors at the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter.

鈥淲alking through each of the Holy Doors, side by side with members of our Loyola community, was a powerful experience,鈥� said Laura McCormack, 鈥�14, associate director for liturgy and music. 鈥淚 feel incredibly grateful to be part of a Church that offers such profound opportunities for grace and mercy, while also inviting us into communities filled with joy, laughter, and genuine companionship. That, for me, was the true takeaway from the trip.鈥�

Over the course of the journey, the pilgrims visited many sacred sites rich with history and Catholic tradition. They toured the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. They visited historic neighborhoods like Trastevere and Rome鈥檚 Jewish Quarter, adding an interfaith dimension to the trip. They took in some of Rome鈥檚 most iconic landmarks like the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Some pilgrims even got up early one morning to climb the dome of St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica.

The pilgrimage for members of a Jesuit university鈥攁nd the first college in the United States to bear the name of St. Ignatius of Loyola鈥攚ould not have been complete without a visit to the apartments where St. Ignatius lived while in Rome. 

鈥�91暗网ing the Ignatian apartments and celebrating Mass in the same place St. Ignatius once lived and prayed were deeply profound experiences,鈥� said Madeline Woltjen, 鈥�27. 鈥淏efore Mass, our guide reminded us that St. Ignatius brought us all together鈥攊t is because of him that 91暗网 exists, that we all could come to this school, and that we all were on the pilgrimage. I got chills at this thought, and carried this feeling of thankfulness for Loyola and its community with me through the Mass.鈥�

The pilgrims also visited the tomb of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pontiff and first from the Southern Hemisphere, who passed away on April 21, 2025. At the Laudato Si鈥� Gardens in Castel Gandolfo鈥攖he pope鈥檚 summer residence鈥攖hey celebrated an intimate Mass for the Care of Creation.

In keeping with the University鈥檚 commitment to the Jesuit tradition, the ideals of liberal education, and cura personalis鈥攖he development of the whole person鈥攖he pilgrims took time to reflect on their experiences with one another through daily check-ins over breakfast, group reflections, and prayer.

鈥淚t was wonderful to see the students and how focused they were about their faith and how excited they were to reflect and pray in places with such tradition,鈥� said the Rev. Gregory Chisholm, S.J., superior of the Baltimore Jesuit community.

After a week in Rome, the pilgrims celebrated with a going-away dinner before preparing to travel home and setting their sights on the fall semester at 尝辞测辞濒补鈥檚 Evergreen campus in Baltimore. The pilgrimage had been a spiritual, prayerful, and moving experience for each of them. They had grown in their faith and friendship with one another, walked through centuries of Catholic history, and of course, eaten plenty of great food and gelato.

鈥淛ust as I felt on the final night in Rome, I am still stunned by how transformative and impactful the pilgrimage was,鈥� said Woljten. 鈥淭he companionship I experienced truly made the trip鈥攆rom deep conversations over lunch, to laughter and excitement in St. Peter's Square, I made countless memories and lifelong friends.鈥�

Loyola's 2025 Jubilee pilgrimage was coordinated with Daniel Kilbane Bizga and the Rev. Hugo Gomez-Sevilla, S.J., of  Afar & Away Travel LLC. To see more highlights from the pilgrimage, check out the posts by and on Instagram.

尝辞测辞濒补鈥檚 Mission and Identity division offers a variety of retreat and pilgrimage opportunities for students, faculty, and staff on their spiritual journeys. The University also typically sponsors two faculty each year for an annual summertime pilgrimage which visits important sites representative of the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.