The Jubilee works are being rushed to the maximum, to the point that some of the most important ones will be finished just 24 hours before the start of the Jubilee events.
For example, the opening of the Holy Door at St. John Lateran is on December 29. But it is on the 28th that the municipality plans to finish the remodeling of the square, which is right in front of St. John Lateran´s Basilica.
The area around the Vatican is almost in the same situation. Look at this square. It is considered the symbol of the Jubilee as it is the big target of the local authorities.
It is an area with a lot of traffic that they wanted to convert into a pedestrian zone. The work began in August 2023 and will not be completed until December 20, four days before the start of the Holy Year.
The expectations were these. A macro-project a few meters from the Vatican to facilitate the passage of more than 32 million pilgrims who will arrive in Rome in 2025.
Public transportation will also be a key point for people who want to get to St. Peter's Square. Until recently, the streets leading to the nearest metro stop were still like this, completely raised.
But not everything will be finished by 2024. Some works will be completed next year. This is the case of Borgo Pio, the shopping street attached to the Vatican. They found out by surprise that work was going to be done on their street. Listen to this shopkeeper.
STEFANO COMANDINI
Salesman of religious articles
ORIG ITALIAN
Broll: Lavori Borgo Pio_38 (00:45 - 01:04)
All we had to do was wait for the customers to arrive, welcome the pilgrims in the best possible way. And instead there will be many problems because starting the works now without telling us when they will be finished is, logically, an inconvenience for all small businesses.
After discussions with the city council, the shopkeepers have reached an agreement. There will be a work stoppage from December 6 to January 8 and then they will sit down with the authorities to see how the work will continue next year.
TR: JD
