Bold statement: Tour guides and operators aren’t just organizers of trips; they’re the hands that hold together a transformative journey for pilgrims in Rome during the Jubilee. But here’s where it gets controversial: does the pressure to present a flawless, inspiring experience ever blur the line between guide and spiritual gatekeeper? This rewritten piece preserves the original meaning while expanding explanations and keeping a friendly, professional tone.
Elizabeth Lev: Tour guides as bridge-builders during Jubilee
Ahead of Rome’s Jubilee for Tourism on Monday, Vatican Radio speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Lev, a veteran Roman tour guide with more than three decades of experience guiding pilgrims from all over the world. The conversation centers on the pivotal role of tour operators and guides during the Jubilee Year and what it means to transition from guide to pilgrim.
By Christopher Wells
As the Jubilee approaches, those in the tourism sector in Rome—tour operators, guides, hotel staff, and transport coordinators—prepare for their own kind of Jubilee. After a Mass at San Salvatore in Lauro, located in the heart of Rome’s historic center, industry workers will join a torchlight procession to Piazza Pia and then complete their pilgrimage by entering the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the lead-up to the Jubilee Pilgrimage, Vatican Radio spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Lev, a Rome guide who has spent more than 30 years sharing Rome’s beauty and Catholic faith with pilgrims and travelers worldwide. Lev describes tour guides as “bridge-builders,” tasked with helping visitors understand Rome’s culture, its landmarks, and its spirituality. “We’re an enormous group dedicated to serving as the bridge between our rich history and, in the Jubilee year, a deep and powerful spirituality,” she notes, emphasizing their goal to be the best possible ambassadors for the Catholic Church.
Listen to the interview with Dr. Elizabeth Lev
Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Lev
Profile: Elizabeth Lev, Roman guide
Vatican Radio: You’re speaking with us as the Jubilee of tourism nears. What is this event about, and what does it mean for those who guide and oversee pilgrimages?
Elizabeth Lev: It’s been an exceptionally busy year for everyone involved in the tour industry. Tens of millions of pilgrims have visited Rome, and that includes tour managers, guides, hotel staff, and transport teams who’ve been working non-stop. As the Jubilee door approached, there was a sense that we should all squeeze through together. With Isabella Ruggiero, head of the Italian tour-guide union, we managed to insert ourselves into the Jubilee of Tourism, and we’re thrilled about it.
Vatican Radio: You carry a heavy responsibility—guides, operators, and managers alike have a major role during the Jubilee. What does it mean to guide during this special year?
Elizabeth Lev: Think of pilgrims arriving from distant lands, often unfamiliar with the language and customs of Rome. For many, this may be their first trip abroad. In this context, the tour guide and tour manager are the first faces they meet. They become the “Pontifex Maximus” to understanding Rome’s culture, sites, and spirituality. A skilled guide can elevate the experience, helping pilgrims grasp the significance of what they see, while a poor guide can diminish it. This is why the community of guides works tirelessly to be both the best bridge and the best representation of the Catholic Church.
That need for cohesion and support is reinforced by prayer. The group will gather for Mass, reflect together, process as a unit, and eventually pass through the Holy Door together. For Lev, this shared journey promises to be the Jubilee’s highlight.
Vatican Radio: Pilgrims come not only for sightseeing but for a true pilgrimage in Rome. How does that shape the guide’s role during the Jubilee year?
Elizabeth Lev: Pilgrimage is a moment of vulnerability and renewal. Those passing through the Holy Doors are often praying for personal intentions or the memory of a loved one. Guides must blend fact with empathy, tailoring the city’s vast history to each traveler’s inner journey. The objective is to make visitors feel renewed, safe, and spiritually enriched as they navigate the monumental spaces of Rome.
Vatican Radio: What responsibilities do guides and operators have toward the places they show and the people they guide?
Elizabeth Lev: The responsibility runs both ways. Guides must protect and present Rome’s sites with care, while ensuring visitors experience them at their best. There are moments when navigating Saint Peter’s can be challenging, but guides help keep participants focused and motivated, even stepping in when organizational gaps arise. Their role can stabilize an otherwise chaotic process and help the group stay connected to the moment.
Vatican Radio: What is the most important insight you share with pilgrims and tourists when they come to Rome?
Elizabeth Lev: As an American who moved to Rome more than 35 years ago, I’ve found that guiding has shaped my life. Sharing what I know—while sustaining my own enthusiasm for the city—has become central to my work. It’s endlessly rewarding to witness someone’s first, awe-filled experience in Saint Peter’s Basilica or to connect the history of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, or even to marvel at the symbolism of Mary Major. The year has also brought a unique moment: Pope Leo, the American pope from Chicago, has added a new warmth and connection to the Americas’ role in the Church.
Vatican Radio: Finally, what does it mean for you personally to transition from tour guide to pilgrim for this Jubilee?
Elizabeth Lev: It’s a deeply fulfilling ending to a long journey. At the start of the Jubilee year, the Dicastery for Communication invited me to participate in a project called “From Tourist to Pilgrim.” The idea was to help visitors shift from seeing sites as mere attractions to experiencing them as pilgrims. Now, at the year’s end, I’m not just a pilgrim myself but a part of a community of fellow pilgrims. I’m proud to belong to this group, and I’m grateful to them for helping me build a life in this remarkable country and grow closer to this extraordinary Church.
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