Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle

A liturgical feast in the heart of Pauline Rome

The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle is one of the most significant religious events in the Roman calendar. It is celebrated every year on January 25th at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in the municipality of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio Region), along the Via Ostiense in the San Paolo district. The basilica houses the tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles and is one of the city's four papal basilicas: no other place could more naturally host the memory of the blinding light on the road to Damascus.

The meaning of the anniversary

The solemnity does not commemorate a martyrdom but a conversion: the moment when Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, became Paul, the apostle who would carry the Gospel to Rome. For this reason, the date of January 25th has been chosen, since the last century, as the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the octave that opens on January 18th and brings together Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, and Protestants every year around a common biblical theme.

The Second Vespers presided over by the Pope

The central moment of the day is the celebration of the Second Vespers, traditionally presided over by the Holy Father in the Ostian basilica at 5:30 PM. It is a sober and deeply intense liturgy: the chanting of psalms, the proclamation of the Word, the Pope's homily, and the presence alongside him of representatives from other Christian Churches, praying together under the mosaics of the nave. In 2026, the celebration was presided over by Pope Leo XIV, concluding the 59th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

An international ecumenical event

• Delegations from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Anglican Communion, and the World Council of Churches usually participate
• Cardinals, archbishops, and bishops of the Papal Chapel are present
• The theme of the octave is prepared each year by a Christian community from a different country
• The celebration is broadcast by Vatican media and followed worldwide

The San Paolo district and the basilica

The basilica, rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1823, is striking for its immense columned nave, the series of medallions featuring portraits of all the pontiffs, and the Cosmatesque cloister, considered one of the most beautiful in Rome. The complex also includes the Benedictine abbey, the archaeological area, and the art gallery. Those arriving for the feast find, in addition to the liturgy, one of the most important art sites in Lazio.

How to experience the day

The basilica remains open all day with free admission, welcoming the faithful, pilgrims, and visitors. Those wishing to attend Vespers with the Pope must take security measures into account and arrive well in advance of the start time, as the turnout is always significant. For those visiting Rome in January, it is also a precious opportunity: the city is less crowded, and the San Paolo district, served by the metro, can be reached in a few minutes from the center.

A tradition that continues

For decades, this feast has combined devotional, artistic, and ecumenical dimensions. It is not a street fair or a public festival: it is a liturgical celebration that, however, fully belongs to the cultural identity of Rome and Lazio, and which every January 25th brings the attention of Christianity back to a basilica too often left on the margins of the most beaten tourist paths.