The Jubilee called by Pope Francis for 2025 is fast approaching, and Rome is preparing to welcome pilgrims from around the world. However, the Holy City has long been accustomed to managing the arrival and hospitality of the faithful, dating back to the High Middle Ages as the spiritual center of Christianity.

Ecclesiastical sources reveal that as early as the 7th and 8th centuries, a steady stream of pilgrims traveled to Rome as European populations gradually converted to Christianity: first the Angles and Saxons, then Swedes, Norwegians, and even Icelanders. At that time, pilgrims were not drawn by the Jubilee (which would be established in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII) but by the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul, numerous relics, the Veil of Veronica, and, increasingly, indulgences offered to those who made the journey to the city.

While it is challenging to estimate the total number of pilgrims who visited Rome across centuries (with sources often noting residents' astonishment at the large crowds and the fierce competition among innkeepers), we can state that a significant portion of these pilgrims were women—some studies suggest up to a third of the total—and among them, the most notable was Saint Bridget of Sweden.

Besides inns and hostels, three key institutions were established by the Popes to assist pilgrims. First were the diaconiae, initially intended to provide food for Romans but soon serving to aid pilgrims as well. Then came the xenodochia, hostels designed specifically for foreigners, although only for short stays. Of greater importance were the scholae, which began appearing around the 7th century near St. Peter's Basilica. Organized by nationality (with, for example, Saxon and Frankish scholae), these establishments hosted foreigners for extended periods; many pilgrims decided to settle permanently in the Eternal City, forming distinct colonies of new, permanent residents. Together, these scholae created a cosmopolitan district, which came to be known as the Leonine City, named after Pope Leo IV.

Thus, a millennial tradition prepares to renew itself once more in the coming year.