- Recognized since 2019, the cultural heritage of UNESCO humanity, forgiveness has its roots in the Middle Ages and is the only annual jubilee;
- The traditional ignition of the tripod of peace and the opening of the Holy Door by Cardinal Pietro Parolin will be joined as every year, cultural events and appointments;
- Biondi, mayor of L’Aquila and president of the Perdonance Committee: “concrete link between spirituality and culture: forgiveness projects us to the goal of Italian capital of culture 2026”;
- In the artistic program of Maestro Leonardo de Amicis “in the time of forgiveness” expected, among others, Renato Zero, Antonello Venditti, Giuliano Sangiorgi, Bruori Sas, Tananai, Stefano De Martino, Raoul Bova and Gianluca Ginoble.
Rome, 24 July 2025 – L’Aquila returns to be the city of forgiveness: it is inaugurated on August 23, and goes on until August 30, 2025, the 731st edition of the Celestinian forgiveness, the only jubilee on an annual basis. Established in 1294 by Pope Celestino V, in 2019 the forgiveness was recognized by UNESCO “Intangible cultural heritage of humanity” and the 2025 edition was presented during a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture.
Over the years, the appointment – promoted and organized by the Municipality of L’Aquila and the Forgive Committee – has gradually transformed into an event of national and international importance, thanks to its universal message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Religious events, institutional events and artistic proposals traditionally alternate in the last week of August which, in 2025, acquired an unprecedented perspective dimension, preceding the year in which L’Aquila will be “Italian capital of culture”.
“On 28 and 29 August in L’Aquila,” he commented Gianmarco Mazzi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture“The solemn rite of forgiveness is held, which can be fully considered the first jubilee of history and assumes for us contemporary men an extraordinary meaning precisely because it makes us reflect on the concept of” forgiveness “. It is a
Appointment of great importance, last year he recorded over 30 thousand appearances, so I congratulate the mayor Biondi and the president of Abruzzo Marsilio who organize it and I wish this year’s edition of this year, all the fortune that deserves, in my name and of the Ministry of Culture “.
“I thank all those who have spent year after year so that this event continues to grow and make the message of hope that has handed down Pietro da Morrone, a dramatically current message in a complex and painful moment like what we are experiencing”, Marco Marsilio, president of the Abruzzo Region added. “Special thanks to the organizing committee declined in the three areas of competence, institutional, religious and operational technician, who with great sensitivity is able to expertly reconcile the religious and spiritual dimension from which this event and the growing cultural scope draws force”.
“The forgiveness – underlines the Mayor of L’Aquila and president of the Perdonance Committee Pierluigi Biondi – It is today a mature event, recognized at national and international level, the result of a collective commitment that saw the institutions work side by side. Since my settlement I believed in its growth, in the enhancement of the universal message contained in the bubble of forgiveness and in the involvement of the whole community. This year, more than ever, the link between spirituality, culture and social cohesion becomes concrete, projecting the eagle towards the finish line of the Italian capital of culture 2026 “.
In the center of the week, religious celebrations are placed, the authentic heart of the Celestinian forgiveness: it begins on Saturday 23 August with the lighting of the tripod of peace. Thursday 28 August, however, over a thousand figures in medieval historical clothes will make up the historical procession that will escort the forgiveness bubble to the Basilica, where in the evening the holy door will be officially opened in the presence of the mayor Pierluigi Biondi and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The forgiveness bubble will be exhibited inside the Basilica until the following day: on August 29, after the solemn closing function of the Holy Door, a second procession will accompany her until returning to the municipal residence.
“The quotation of the indulgence of forgiveness in the bubble of the Jubilee Spes Non Confundit of Pope Francis was a great recognition, above all a confirmation of the great spiritual value of the forgiveness donated by Pope San Celestino V.” He added If Monsignor Antonio D’Angelo, Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of L’Aquila. “The presence of the Vatican Secretary of State Card. Parolin who I sincerely thank for accepting my invitation, confirms the universal dimension of forgiveness, treasure kept in L’Aquila, and this makes us very honor, but intended for the universal Church and the world
entire”.
“This is my eighth forgiveness, and every year I tried to give shape to a story that was faithful to tradition, but capable of speaking the language of the present.” He commented Leonardo de Amicis, Artistic director of the 731st Celestinian forgiveness. “The word” forgive “this year does not remain in the background: we put it in the center, as a theme, as a vision, as a necessary act. Through music, dance, word and encounter between generations, this forgiveness wants to be a shared, civil, popular, but also deeply cultural path. We have combined extraordinary artists, symbolic spaces, memory and future, to return to the eagle a large collective embrace. which projects it forcefully around 2026, the year of culture “.
In the cultural billboard, also this year designed exclusively for the eagle, theatrical performance, dance and music for and with the territory. The artists involved include names and faces of national and international caliber: from the Étoile of the Royal Ballet in London, of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, from the work of Vienna and Berlin, of the Compañía Nacional de Danza of Madrid, of the Dutch National Ballet, to Renato Zero, from Antonello Venditti to Stefano De Martino, from Francesco Gabbani to Francesca Michielin, from Brunori Sas to Giuliano Sangiorgi and then again Gianluca Ginoble, Tananai, Gaetano Curreri, Alex Britti, Amara, Victoriana De Amicis, for a choral embrace at the 731st Celestinian forgiveness in the year of the Jubilee and prelude to L’Aquila Italian capital of culture.
Carlo Franza