Rome to host the 9th World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism

17-09-25

From October 16 to 19, 2025, Rome will become the epicenter of international dialogue on tourism and faith as it hosts the 9th World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism, to be held at the TH Roma Carpegna Palace. Under the theme “Tourism, a Gateway to Evangelization”, the gathering will bring together Church representatives, scholars, tourism experts, and pastoral workers from around the world to reflect on how travel and leisure can be opportunities for spiritual encounter, evangelizing mission, and fraternity among peoples.

The Congress will open on Thursday, October 16, at 3:30 p.m. with the welcoming of participants and an inaugural session featuring leading figures, including Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization; Daniela Garnero Santanché, Italy’s Minister of Tourism; Archbishop Jain Méndez, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the World Tourism Organization; and Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi, Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The opening of the proceedings will be led by Don Michele Gianola, acting director of the Ufficio Nazionale per la Pastorale del Tempo Libero, Turismo e Sport, together with Stefano Riccardi, officer of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

The rich and experience-filled program is organized into several thematic sessions. The first, dedicated to theoretical tools, will address the theology of rest, presented by Professor Stefano Biancu, and the anthropological dimension of tourism, presented by Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi. The second session, focused on practical tools, will explore the relationship between art and faith with a presentation by Barbara Jatta, Director of the Vatican Museums, and will host dialogue panels on catechesis, artificial intelligence applied to evangelization, and the role of religious tourism in different regions.

The Congress will also offer an experiential dimension with guided visits to iconic Roman sites, including the Basilica of San Clemente, the Baptistery of St. John, and the Vatican Necropolis, as well as the passage through the Holy Door, a central moment of the Jubilee Year. On Saturday, October 18, participants will take part in the Jubilee Pilgrimage, which will include an Eucharistic celebration at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter. The day will conclude with a reflection on tourism and conviviality led by Debora Tonelli, Georgetown University’s representative in Rome.

A particularly significant aspect of this edition is the participation of the World Religious Tourism Network, represented by Biagio Maimone, its National Coordinator in Italy. His presence reinforces the Congress’s international and collaborative character, highlighting the importance of religious tourism as a driver of intercultural dialogue, a promoter of peace, and a catalyst for shared experiences of faith. The World Religious Tourism Network brings a global perspective that enriches the discussions on evangelization through tourism, sharing experiences and best practices that already inspire destinations across various continents.

The logistics have been carefully planned. Registrations, exclusively online, will remain open until September 28, 2025, with packages that include accommodation, meals, guided tours, and local transportation. Participants may stay either at the TH Roma Carpegna Palace itself or at the Casa per Ferie San Juan, with prices ranging from €275 to €450, depending on the type of room and accommodation chosen. Those who do not require lodging may register for €30, plus €30 for each optional meal.

The Congress invites priests, religious, pastoral agents, academics, and tourism professionals to rediscover travel as an experience of faith and fraternity, in a context that combines theological reflection, intercultural dialogue, and unique spiritual encounters. Rome, with its historical and spiritual richness, thus becomes the ideal setting to strengthen the role of tourism as a vehicle for encounter, contemplation, and the proclamation of the Gospel.

For more information and to register, please visit the official event page: turismo.chiesacattolica.it .

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