Bishop Dennis Walsh speaks to young adults at Faith on Tap March 16 at Jersey Grille in Davenport.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Rome is a central part of Catholic history and Bishop Dennis Walsh believes that is why “Every Catholic in their lifetime should do a pilgrimage to Rome.” He shared that message with young adults March 16 during their “Faith on Tap” event in Jersey Grille’s Upper Room.
Pilgrimage was the focus of his talk as the Catholic Church celebrates its Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, a once-in-a-quarter century celebration in which the Church encourages the faithful to embark on a pilgrimage to Rome or closer to home. (Pope Francis declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in December 2015.)
“Most of you, if not all of you, were not born before the last (ordinary) Jubilee Year,” Bishop Walsh told the gathering of about two-dozen young adults. Making pilgrimage to Rome should focus on visits to Catholic sites and not just tourist sites. “See the foundation of your faith. Go to the catacombs. See the basilicas and places of pilgrimage.”
“If I could take every high school student to Rome, I would,” the bishop said. Millions will travel to Rome this year to “pay tribute at the tomb of Peter,” which might be a good reason to wait until next year to make a pilgrimage to Rome.
Bishop talked about the centuries-long debate regarding the burial of St. Peter under the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Pius XII ordered an excavation under the main altar to settle the debate. From 1940-1957, workers dug carefully. Church officials confirmed that a niche in a catacomb contained the bones of St. Peter.
With celebration of a Jubilee Year every 25 years, “The Lord offers us the opportunity to begin again,” the bishop said. As part of any jubilee, plenary indulgences are possible. He explained receiving the sacrament of reconciliation results in forgiveness of sins. “But all sin causes damage. There is no sin that does not affect someone else. All sin is harmful.” Despite confession, “damage remains,” the bishop said. “An indulgence is salvation for the souls. Freedom begins again. It repairs the damage of sin.”
To gain a plenary indulgence this Jubilee Year, pilgrims have options. The first is to visit one of the four major basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major or St. Paul Outside the Walls. Not everyone can make it to Rome but can make a pilgrimage to other Catholic sites locally and throughout the world — from cathedrals to basilicas to Marian or national sanctuaries and shrines. In the Diocese of Davenport, designated sites are Ss. Mary & Patrick Church (of Divine Mercy Parish), West Burlington; Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport; St. Mary Parish, Grinnell; St. Patrick Parish, Iowa City, and Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish, Muscatine. In addition, Catholics must go to confession, receive Communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father to receive a plenary indulgence.
Some people who are not Catholic criticize the Church, assuming that plenary indulgences ended with the Protestant Reformation. “The Church did not do away with them. The Church did away with the selling of indulgences,” Bishop Walsh said.
He has made pilgrimages to Rome and now has a dream to walk the Camino de Santiago. The entire walk is about 500 miles from France to northern Spain. Pilgrims must walk a minimum of 200 km (about 125 miles) to earn a certificate. “You have a special passport that you get stamped along the way.”
Switching gears, Bishop Walsh talked about social media and the mistruths that have spread about the Church. Some social media posts have taken aim at the Jubilee mascot, Luce. Some see the character as a “pagan symbol.” Some felt it was too cartoonish or modern. “Luce” means light, the bishop said. Some posts spread untruths that it meant Lucifer.
Bishop Walsh said Pope Francis is the first pope to lead during the social media era. He thinks the pope’s predecessors might have faced more criticism if social media had been pervasive when they led the Church. The bishop attributes this thinking to the negativity that troubles social media and the spreading of falsehoods.
During a Q&A session, one young adult asked about hope and optimism. Bishop Walsh said optimism overstates the notion that things will be well. “Hope is much more realistic. Hope does not disappoint.” Hope involves action.
Bishop Walsh encouraged his audience to visit the official Jubilee Year website and download the app (https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/applicazione.html).
The young adults received the bishop’s blessing to conclude the evening.
