Thousands of people from over 90 countries gathered in Rome to celebrate the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of People with Disabilities. The event, which took place on April 28-29, brought together more than 10,000 participants who attended Mass, received confessions, and participated in Eucharistic adoration. Pilgrims with disabilities shared their experiences and prayers, highlighting the importance of inclusion and dignity.
Anna Maria Gargiulo, an 18-year-old blind woman from Perugia, Italy, emphasized the value of her disability as a possibility rather than a problem. “I look at the world with different eyes,” she said, praying for a world where inclusion becomes a normality. Davide Andreoli, a 32-year-old man with cerebral palsy from Ferrara, Italy, expressed joy about the experience, saying, “It’s beautiful! You can see the jubilee, Piazza del Popolo, Rome, the Colosseum.”
The jubilee celebrated the Church’s commitment to mercy and inclusion, with Archbishop Rino Fisichella praying that Pope Francis’ legacy would continue to inspire these values. Families shared how faith helps them face life’s trials, while individuals with disabilities emphasized their desire to be seen as people with dignity and worth.