VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis opened the sacred “Holy Door” of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, marking the start of a landmark Jubilee year that is expected to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
Despite battling a recent cold, the 88-year-old pontiff was wheeled to the massive bronze door, where he ceremonially knocked, symbolically opening the portal to spiritual renewal for Catholics worldwide.
The traditional ceremony, watched by thousands in St. Peter’s Square, was accompanied by ringing Vatican bells and a solemn procession. Throughout the next 12 months, pilgrims will pass through the normally sealed doorway, traditionally believed to offer a “plenary indulgence” — a spiritual cleansing of sins.
During the subsequent Christmas Eve Mass, Francis continued his passionate advocacy for peace, delivering a poignant homily that decried global violence. “We think of wars, of machine-gunned children, of bombs on schools and hospitals,” he said, echoing his recent controversial criticism of Israeli strikes in Gaza.
The Jubilee preparations have transformed Rome, with significant infrastructure improvements and enhanced security measures. Approximately 700 security personnel will be deployed around the Vatican and city, with heightened vigilance following recent European security incidents.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated the city’s preparedness, describing the completion of key projects as a “little civil miracle” that required months of intense work.
However, local residents remain skeptical about Rome’s capacity to manage the anticipated influx of millions of additional visitors, given existing challenges with overcrowding and public transportation.
In the coming days, Holy Doors will be opened in Rome’s major basilicas and Catholic churches globally, extending the spiritual significance of this momentous occasion.
The Jubilee year, a centuries-old Catholic tradition typically held every 25 years, promises to be a significant moment of religious reflection and pilgrimage.
