This thesis explores the development of Rome as a centre of Christian pilgrimage from late antiquity to the early Middle Ages, emphasizing the city's transformation from the political heart of the Roman Empire to a key spiritual destination in the Christian world. The study begins with an analysis of the role of the first Christian martyrs and their significance in strengthening the Christian community, as well as the formation of the initial pilgrimage sites in Rome. Special emphasis is placed on the role of Empress Helena in discovering and transferring holy relics from the Holy Land to Rome, further solidifying the city's status as a sacred place. The thesis also examines in detail the development of pilgrimage routes and infrastructure, such as the Via Francigena and Via Appia, which facilitated the arrival of pilgrims from various parts of Europe. The role of the papacy in promoting pilgrimage through the organization of Jubilee Years is explored, along with the contributions of monastic orders, particularly the Benedictines, in preserving and disseminating holy relics and texts and providing spiritual guidance to pilgrims. A particular section of the thesis is devoted to the social and economic impact of the large influx of pilgrims on Rome, including the development of trade, lodging facilities, and the spread of religious ideas. Despite crises such as the sackings of Rome in 410 and 455 AD, the city, through the restoration of holy sites and support from Germanic rulers like Theodoric the Great, managed to maintain its status. The thesis concludes with a discussion on the revival of pilgrimage in the early Middle Ages under the influence of the Carolingian Renaissance, leading to the reaffirmation of Rome as the spiritual centre of the Christian world. Through these aspects, the thesis demonstrates how religious, political, and social factors shaped Rome as a permanent and indisputable centre of Christian devotion, whose significance endured despite historical challenges.