In brief
With the Catholic Jubilee set to welcome 32 million visitors in 2025, Rome is undergoing extensive renovations. While city officials celebrate the upgrades, residents express concern over community displacement and the commercialization of their neighborhoods.
After 450 days of traffic disruptions, Rome inaugurated a new underpass by the Tiber River, creating a vast pedestrian plaza adjacent to the Vatican—making it Rome's largest pedestrian area. This infrastructure improvement, part of the city's preparations for the anticipated flow of visitors, has been met with mixed reactions. Rome's Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, declared the completion of numerous public works a "miracle," while others, like Martina Battista, a 23-year-old medical student, recount her struggle of being evicted to accommodate a bed-and-breakfast venture for the Jubilee. As projects aimed at enhancing Rome's beauty and sustainability advance, citizens remain caught in the chaos of construction detours and increasing living costs. The renovations bring new pathways for tourists but also deeper burdens for residents grappling with keeping their homes and way of life intact. In the face of the Jubilee, the character of Rome hangs in a delicate balance.
