VOLUNTARY SERVICE IN ROME – WITH ROMEA STRATA AND THE ST. PETER FACTORY
Start of the service
on the basis of availability, the service will start on 13 May 2024 and will continue, depending on the
availability of volunteers, during 2025, with no end date.
Location
The service will take place between St. Peters Square and the RECEPTION POINT (cloakroom), located to
the right, at the foot of the Basilica.
In particular, in the square, the access point to the prayer route, dedicated only to pilgrims with credentials,
is visually marked by the presence of a gazebo (called the VARCO PREGHIERA) and yellow information panels.
At the gate, there is a person who collects the pilgrim’s data (generalities). This is the first point at which the volunteer carries out his or her service.
The pilgrim follows the route, physically separated by wooden fences and marked with yellow arrows, to
the security check with the metal detector. The route continues, taking the pilgrim to the reception point.
Here he finds other Basilica personnel from whom he can ask for any useful information.
The reception point is the second place where the volunteer performs his service.
Functions
● At the prayer gate, in the square, the function is to direct and channel the pilgrims along the path
dedicated to them and, if necessary, to collect their personal details in the register (currently on paper).
● At the reception point, the function is to give information to pilgrims regarding luggage storage, bike
storage, times of blessings and pilgrim mass, visiting the Basilica, checking credentials and handing out the
Testimonium.
On this part the staff of the Fabbrica will carry out on-site training at the start of the service period and in
any case you can find all the information at these two links:
St Peters Basilica website:
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/it/vivi-la-basilica/servizi-per-i-pellegrini.html
Romea Strata website: https://www.romeastrata.org/arrivo-a-roma/
In addition to this information, it is also important to suggest to pilgrims all those activities they can do in
Rome, such as
o On the steps of Saints Peter and Paul
o The Catacombs
o The memories of Jerusalem in Rome
o Pilgrimage of the 7 Churches
o Extra Mile of Romea Strata
o Ignatian Places in Rome
A bilingual leaflet on this will be prepared for pilgrims.
Shifts, timetables and changes
The service is designed to have two people in the morning from 8:30 to 13:30 and two people in the
afternoon from 13:30 to 18:30. The two people on shift can alternate between the prayer desk in the
square and the reception point.
All weekly shifts start on Monday and end on Sunday.
● Those on morning shift: arrival and departure on Sunday afternoon. (arrive the evening before – Sunday –
and leave on Sunday afternoon, i.e. vacate the room in the morning and take your suitcase with you).
● Those with the afternoon shift: arrival and departure on Monday morning. (arrive on the morning of the
same day and leave on the morning following the last Sunday afternoon)
The reception service is always suspended on Wednesday mornings because of the Pope’s audiences.
From October it is possible that the service hours will be extended to 20:00 (8:00-14:00; 14:00-20:00).
Organisational coordination of volunteers
Coordinating the presence and shifts of the service are Bianca Zaccaria and Maurizio Dei Zotti.
From now on, all communications should be made to them by writing or calling their mobile phone number
335 1412374. A WhatsApp group " Romea Strata Volontari Roma" will be created for official
communications only (in which you will not be able to interact).
Any unforeseen event related to your service must be communicated to the coordinators, who will take care of notifying the Fabbrica di San Pietro and managing any substitutions.
The Fabbrica di San Pietro can always decide to make changes to the day's timetable in the event of unforeseen or exceptional events requiring it.
Style of the volunteer
The style of the volunteer is that of service for St Peters Basilica with these characteristics
● Spirit of adaptation and sharing with the other volunteers on the team
● Welcoming pilgrims to a holy place
● Openness of mind and heart towards those you meet
● An attitude of listening so that the other can find acceptance in us
● Each volunteer must take care to dress appropriately and decorously (no shorts or tank tops).
● Each person will be given a waistcoat identifying them as a St Peter's Factory volunteer.
● Everyone will be given a Romea Strata pin to wear on their waistcoat during their service.
Travel and transfers
Train tickets to and from Rome are the responsibility of the volunteer, as is any other travel.
Accommodation
La Fabbrica provides volunteers with a self-catering flat, in PIAZZALE GREGORIO VII n.65, 900 meters from
St. Peters Square.
The flat has 3 rooms (2 singles and a double), 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a washing machine.
Each volunteer must bring their own bed linen (sheets and pillowcases) as well as toiletries and towels.
Volunteers finishing their service must vacate the room and clean it so that the volunteers starting their
shift can arrive and settle into the room. The cleaning of the rooms and common areas is the responsibility
of the volunteers and must be done weekly to keep the flat tidy and clean.
We will provide you with a copy of the flat keys. In case you are unable to organise the handing over of keys
with the rest of the group, these should be left with the inspector.
The inspector can be met at the prayer gate in the square, after calling the rectory (06 69883462).
Food
● Breakfast and dinner: self-managed. The Homo Viator Foundation provides long-life food (pasta, milk,
pulses, etc.) and non-fresh food (fruit and vegetables).
● Lunch: The factory has a canteen for employees, which also provides volunteers. Your names will be
communicated monthly so that you can access the canteen at the Vatican. We therefore remind you to
always carry an identity document and your health card with you.
The canteen is open from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located 5 minutes from the Piazza (see map), on Via
del Telegrafo.
Training
This Vademecum is part of the Volunteer Service Training.
To learn more about the Jubilee and its significance you can find all the insights on our Romea Strata
website at this link: https://www.romeastrata.org/giubileo2025/
In particular Romea Strata proposes the Jubilee spread through the Miliarium (see attachment).
At this link the Miliarium of Romea Strata: https://www.romeastrata.org/miliarium/
For the operational part, all volunteers will be trained by the Fabbrica di San Pietro directly in the field.
All volunteers are invited to read the Bull of Indiation of the Jubilee 2025 which will be published in May on
the Vatican website (www.vatican.va) or on that of the Dicastery for Evangelisation
(https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it.html)
For more information about the Basilica visit: https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/it.html
Information note
During the Jubilee year, at Via della Conciliazione 5, an info-point of the Dicastery for Evangelisation will
also be operating, dedicated exclusively to the Jubilee celebrations and related activities.
Interested pilgrims can therefore be directed to this info-point.
https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it/pellegrinaggio/centro-accoglienza-pellegrini.html
In general, the Dicastery for Evangelisation will publish all things related to the Jubilee on this site:
https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it.html
Religious references
1. St Peter. We stand on the rock upon which God has built his Church
2. The 139th statue on Berninis colonnade in Piazza San Pietro, depicts St Theobald
3. We begin our service on 13 May, the day of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima to
the 3 children and the day of the assassination attempt on John Paul II in St Peters Square (1981).