Thousands of Catholic faithful are expected to descend upon Rome in the coming weeks, as cardinals from around the world gather at the Vatican to elect a new pope.
A new pontiff is expected to be chosen within three days of the conclave, which is set to begin on May 7, and large crowds will likely wait outside Saint Peter's Basilica in anticipation.
But for many Catholics, this is a particularly profound time to travel to Rome, regardless of the conclave.
This year is a Jubilee year, during which Catholics the world over are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Rome to reaffirm their faith.
The passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday marks the first time a pope has died during a Jubilee year since 1700.
More than 250,000 people reportedly participated in the funeral Mass in St Peter's Square on Saturday, with more than 150,000 lining the route from the Vatican to his final resting place in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
For those of the Catholic faith, the confluence of these events will reshape this holy year.
What is a Jubilee year?
A Jubilee year is a sacred time for Catholics, most of whom will only experience two in a lifetime.
It occurs every 25 years, unless called for specifically by the pope, and signifies a period of spiritual renewal, prayer, and affirming one's commitment to God.
This year began officially on Christmas Eve, 2024, when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The year officially ends on January 6, 2026, which marks the feast of the Epiphany.
In the Bible, the Jubilee is described in the Book of Leviticus as a year in which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven, and God's mercy would manifest. There are also specific rules about property ownership, money lending and farming during these years.
The first Jubilee in Western Christianity was in 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed a Jubilee year to encourage pilgrims to journey to Rome. According to the chronicles of the day, some 200,000 people made the trip.
The interval between Jubilees has varied throughout history and has at times been 33 years, to mark Jesus' lifetime, and 50 years, as is written in the Bible.
Antonia Pizzey, a lecturer in theology at Australian Catholic University, says a Jubilee year marks "an opportunity for reflection and grace".
Pilgrimage is a key part of this, she explains.
"Pilgrimage is a deeply time-honoured tradition in the Catholic faith, where you drop your normal burdens and your normal responsibilities in your day-to-day life and you prioritise your relationship with God," she says.
"You set yourself free, break out of your comfort zone, and you strike out on a pilgrimage."
What are the Holy Doors?
A Jubilee pilgrimage involves travelling to Rome and walking through the four Holy Doors, located in the major papal basilicas in Rome: Saint Peter's Basilica, the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
This year, there is also a fifth door, located at a major Italian prison in Rome. Pope Francis also presided over a mass at the prison, in line with his values as an advocate for the incarcerated.
For Catholics, crossing the door's threshold symbolises passing into God's presence and remission of sins and debt.
The first Jubilee door was opened in 1423 by Pope Martin V in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, and other doors were added to papal basilicas by Pope Alexander VI in 1500.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII replaced the wooden doors in Saint Peter's Basilica with the 16-panelled bronze ones we see today. The others were updated for the 2000 Jubilee.
Outside Jubilee years, the doors are sealed with mortar and cement from the inside.
In 2016, Pope Francis called for a special Jubilee year, called the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. During this time, he allowed churches all over the world to set up their own holy doors, which he named Doors of Mercy, so that Catholics could experience renewal and reflection at their local parish.
What is the theme and why does it matter?
The theme of this year's Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope, which speaks to Pope Francis' personal philosophy.
In his announcement of the theme, known as a Bull of Indiction, Pope Francis wrote:
"Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring … Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope."
Looking back at Francis' legacy, Dr Pizzey says hope is an "increasingly central motif to understand his papacy and his leadership".
"It's very fitting that he's passed away and he's left us with this final message that we should devote our attention in the world to being pilgrims of hope," she says.
"He's calling us in this special year to think about how we can grow hope in ourselves … in a world that is so desperately in need of hope."
How will Pope Francis' death affect the Jubilee?
The pope traditionally closes the Holy Doors at the end of a Jubilee year, which will obviously not be possible this year.
The last time a pope died during a Jubilee, his successor closed the doors, and Dr Pizzey expects this will be the case in January 2026.
She says the combination of the Jubilee and Pope Francis' death — on one of the most holy days of the Catholic calendar — will create a "very special experience" for pilgrims in Rome.
"It's going to change the shape of the holy year," she says.
"In some ways, it may even heighten the depth of [pilgrims'] sense of spiritual renewal because they'll be going to see his body and to reflect upon his legacy."
The Jubilee year usually features a "packed" calendar, with different events and activities scheduled each week. Some of these — like the much-awaited canonisation of the first millennial saint, Carlo Actutis — will be postponed, while other events will go ahead.
Pilgrims will also likely flock to Pope Francis' chosen burial site, the Saint Mary Major Basilica, which is technically in Italy, though owned by the Holy See.
"That might then shift the focus of the epicentre of pilgrimage away from Saint Peter's [Basilica] to Saint Mary Major, where his body is going to be laid to rest," Dr Pizzey says.
"I think what we will see in Rome is a real outpouring of gratitude and grief at his passing, an opportunity for all the pilgrims to come and see his body and to really consolidate his legacy.
"So it will still be the Jubilee year and the year of hope, but not in the way that we could have quite imagined it."
