Pope Francis opened the “Holy Doors” of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve, kicking off a holy year of Catholic celebrations that is expected to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
The 88-year-old pope, who had recently come down with a cold, was wheeled up to a huge ornate bronze door and knocked before it opened.
In a ceremony outside St. Peter's Square watched by thousands of faithful on screens, the Argentine Pope followed a procession through the doors as the Vatican Cathedral's bells tolled.
Over the next 12 months, Catholic pilgrims will pass through a door normally covered with bricks to receive the benefit of “full indulgences,” a type of remission of sins, as per tradition.
Pope Francis then presided over Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, where he once again turned his attention to the victims of war. “We think of war, of children being shot by machine guns, of bombings of schools and hospitals,” he said in his sermon.
The Pope drew an angry response from Israel over the weekend when he condemned the “atrocity” of Israel's attack on Gaza that killed children. He was scheduled to deliver the traditional Christmas Day blessing “Urbi e Orbi” (to the city and the world) at noon on Wednesday.
Approximately 700 security personnel have been deployed around the Vatican and Rome, further intensifying measures following Friday's car ramming attack at a Christmas market in Germany.
Much of Rome is also undergoing renovations, with monuments such as the Trevi Fountain and Ponte Sant'Angelo being cleaned up and roads redesigned to improve traffic flow.
Many residents are wondering how the Eternal City, already overcrowded in key areas and with unreliable public transport, will cope with millions more visitors next year.
A major commemorative project was completed in just a few days after months of work that turned much of the city into a construction site.
At a ceremony to inaugurate a new road tunnel in Pier Square next to the Vatican on Monday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said it took a “small private miracle” to complete the project in time.
In the coming days, the Holy Doors will be opened in Rome's three cathedrals and in Catholic churches around the world.
On Thursday, Pope Francis will open the Holy Doors at Rome's Rebibbia Prison and preside over a Mass to show support for prisoners.
Organized by the Church every 25 years, the Jubilee is intended as a period of reflection and repentance, and includes a number of cultural and religious events, from Masses to exhibitions, conferences and concerts.
Lisbeth Dembele, a 52-year-old French tourist who was visiting St. Peter's Square, said: “It's my first time in Rome, but I already feel blessed to be here in the Vatican.''
This year's Jubilee, whose motto is “Pilgrim of Hope,” is aimed at the approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, but also aims to reach a wider audience.
The tradition has evolved since the first such event was held in 1300, initiated by Pope Boniface VIII. This year, the Vatican provided pilgrims with online registration and a multilingual phone app to navigate the event.
Jubilee 2025 will also feature a mascot named Luce (which means light in Latin), which is inspired by a Japanese anime manga. The event will bring groups from all over the world to Rome throughout 2025, ranging from sports and business figures to immigrants, artists and young people.
Among the organizations registered on the official website is the Italian LGBTQ organization La Tenda di Gionata, which reflects the Pope's call to make the church open to all. are.
In his homily, the Pope said the jubilee is a time of “spiritual renewal” and hope, including for “Mother Earth spoiled by profiteering” and “poor countries suffering from unjust debt.” .
Besides the regular Jubilee Years every 25 years, the Church organizes special Jubilee Years, most recently in 2016. The next one will take place in 2033 to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
