The Spiritual Role of Tour Guides in the Jubilee Year: Insights Are Given Here

Published on December 15, 2025

With the Jubilee for Tourism fast approaching, a veteran tourist guide in Rome, Dr. Elizabeth Lev, talks with Vatican Radio about why tour guides and tour operators are a critical part of this Holy Year. She also tells Vatican Radio how she feels moving from being a tourist guide to a tourist herself during this important event.

Tour Guides as Bridge Builders Between History, Culture, and Spirituality

For over 30 years, Dr. Elizabeth Lev has been showing pilgrims and tourists the beauty of Rome and its deep Catholic heritage. As a tour guide, she believes that guides are much more than just navigators; they serve as “bridge-builders,” helping visitors understand the profound culture, spirituality, and history of the Eternal City.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Lev explained how tour guides are often the first people pilgrims meet upon arriving in Rome. Many of these pilgrims may be coming from far-off countries, and for some, it may be their first time traveling abroad. “The tour guide is the ‘Pontifex Maximus,’ the bridge-builder,” she said, stressing the importance of helping people understand both the cultural context and the religious significance of the sites they are visiting.

The Jubilee Year: A Special Time for Tour Guides and Pilgrims

As part of the Jubilee Year celebrations, thousands of pilgrims have arrived in Rome, and tour guides like Dr. Lev have played a key role in making their experience meaningful. The pilgrimage is not just about sightseeing, but also about spiritual renewal. The opportunity to visit the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica and other sacred sites is a deeply transformative moment for many, and guides must be empathetic and sensitive to the spiritual significance of these experiences.

Lev notes that pilgrimage is a time of vulnerability. “Pilgrims come to pray, to renew themselves, to reflect on the soul of a loved one,” she said. As a guide, it is not just about reciting facts about the historical significance of a church or monument, but understanding the emotional and spiritual needs of the travelers. A good guide helps pilgrims feel secure, safe, and spiritually elevated, ensuring that the visit becomes more than just a tourist experience, but a pilgrimage in every sense of the word.

The Jubilee for Tourism: A Moment of Reflection for Tour Operators

Ahead of the Jubilee for Tourism on Monday, tour operators, tour guides, and industry workers are participating in their own pilgrimage to mark the end of the year. After a Mass at the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro, guides and operators will take part in a torchlight procession to Piazza Pia and then proceed to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. For Lev, this journey is not just symbolic but a moment of personal renewal.

“Being together as a group, praying together, and walking through the Holy Door together is a very special moment,” she shared. It marks the culmination of a year of hard work, during which guides have been guiding pilgrims and tourists through the busy, complex city of Rome. This moment, she explains, offers them a chance to experience what it means to be a pilgrim, not just a guide.

The Complexities of Being a Tour Guide in Rome During the Jubilee Year

Lev also acknowledges the responsibility that comes with being a tour guide during the Jubilee Year. With tens of millions of pilgrims coming to Rome for this unique occasion, the demands on guides have been immense. Beyond the logistics of managing large groups and ensuring visitors get to all the key sites, there is also the challenge of making each experience deeply meaningful.

As she describes it, a tour guide’s role is to act as a bridge between the immense history of Rome and the deeply spiritual journey of the pilgrims. “We are working hard to be the best bridge and the best face we can for the Catholic Church,” Lev said. This responsibility is not just about showcasing historical sites but about helping pilgrims connect spiritually with the places they visit, often providing context and insight that enhances their experience.

The Importance of Empathy and Connection in Pilgrimage

Guiding pilgrims through Rome requires not just knowledge of the city’s landmarks, but a deep sense of empathy. Lev emphasizes that understanding the psychology of pilgrims—many of whom may be seeking personal transformation or solace—is essential to offering an enriching experience. She believes that, as guides, it’s not enough to merely show the physical spaces; guides must help travelers process their journey and find meaning in the sacred spaces they visit.

This dual role of being both an educator and a guide to spiritual enrichment is what makes guiding during the Jubilee Year so special. “When people enter Saint Peter’s Basilica for the first time, or begin to understand the history of Saints Peter and Paul, it never grows old for me,” Lev reflects. The continued joy of seeing pilgrims’ faces light up with understanding is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

The Transition from Tour Guide to Pilgrim

As the Jubilee year draws to a close, Lev is not only guiding others, but also taking part in the pilgrimage herself. She explains how, at the beginning of the year, she was involved in the “From Tourist to Pilgrim” project, which focused on helping tourists see Rome through the eyes of a pilgrim. Now, at the end of the year, she has the chance to experience the pilgrimage herself, walking through the Holy Door and reflecting on the year’s journey.

For Lev, this transition from being a guide to a pilgrim is a profound and fulfilling experience. “It comes full circle,” she says, noting that the joy of walking with her community of fellow tour guides and pilgrims is a unique and special way to close the Jubilee year.

What Tour Guides Can Teach Us About Rome and Faith

Lev’s reflections provide insight into the invaluable role of tour guides during the Jubilee Year. They are not just giving tours—they are facilitating spiritual journeys, guiding pilgrims through both the city’s history and their own personal reflections. With empathy, dedication, and a deep understanding of the transformative power of pilgrimage, they help visitors experience Rome in a way that goes beyond sightseeing, turning a visit into a deeply spiritual encounter.

The Enduring Impact of Tour Guides During Pilgrimages

With the end of the Jubilee Year in sight, it is good to remember, in light of Dr. Elizabeth Lev’s reflections, the critical role played by tour guides in creating this experience for pilgrims. They represent a connection between history and spirituality, allowing tourists not simply to experience Rome but to experience it not just as a tourist but as a pilgrim embarking on a path towards conversion. The Jubilee for Tourism gives both tourists and tour guides an important chance to examine this interplay of their experiences, and this path, from tourist to tour guide and hence to pilgrim, is one of great fulfillment for Lev.