Why does the Catholic Church make such a big deal about a city that is barely mentioned in Scripture, and when it is, often derogatorily?

There is a special indulgence given during this Jubilee Year, which Pope Francis says “allows us to discover how limitless God's mercy is.” 

Jubilees are special times of grace. The year is filled with both special events in Rome as well as traditional acts of piety that have been part of the Jubilee for centuries.

One way to get even more out of this adventure is to prepare ahead of time by learning about some of the people, places, or events you’re going to encounter.