Pope Francis urged inmates to never give up hope as he inaugurated the Vatican’s Jubilee Year at the high-security Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome on Thursday.

Over 35 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome in 2025 seeking forgiveness of sins and a chance to see the pope.

Rome has shifted into high gear for the opening of Jubilee 2025, a blockbuster year-long celebration in the Catholic world that begins Christmas Eve. The Jubilee is a centuries-old tradition packed with epic pageantry and events that draw visitors from all corners of the globe.