Jubilee year 2025: Pope opens the gates of St. Peter’s Basilica and ushers in the Holy Year

In a symbolic ceremony on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which had been closed for several years. The Holy Year of the Catholic Church has officially begun. Sitting in a wheelchair, the 88-year-old Francis knocked several times on the heavy bronze door, whereupon helpers opened it from the inside.

Francis, who was dependent on a wheelchair due to a serious knee problem and was in poor health, previously sat on the threshold of the door and remained in silent prayer for a moment. After the door was opened, he was driven over the threshold into St. Peter’s Basilica.

After the Pope, ten children from all over the world, each dressed in national costumes, crossed the threshold of the Holy Door. This was followed by 54 believers from different countries.

“Brothers and sisters, in the Lord’s Christmas we prepare to enter the Holy Door in faith. The steps of our journey are the steps of the whole Church, pilgrim in the world and witness of peace,” Francis said. By crossing the threshold, believers would enter the “time of mercy and forgiveness.”

Pope calls believers to hope at Christmas mass

The pontiff then celebrated the traditional Christmas mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his homily, Francis exhorted the faithful to bring hope as “pilgrims of light into the darkness of the world.” “This is the night when the door of hope is opened wide for the world; this is the night when God says to each one: There is hope for you too!”

The motto of the anniversary year is “Peregrinantes in Spem – Pilgrims of Hope”. According to Francis, this motto is intended to encourage believers worldwide to “bring hope to where it has been lost.” For example, “into the long and empty days of prisoners, into the narrow and cold rooms of the poor, into the places desecrated by war and violence.”

Holy years usually only occur every 25 years

The Catholic Church usually celebrates a so-called Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee Year, every 25 years. According to Catholic understanding, believers can obtain remission of their sins through prayer and penance during a jubilee year. This also includes the pilgrimage to Rome and passing through the holy gates. The Holy Year 2025 officially ends on January 6, 2026.

The last regular jubilee year, known as “Giubileo” in Italian, took place in 2000. The Pope can deviate from the 25-year rhythm that has existed since 1475 and proclaim so-called extraordinary holy years. The last time this happened was in 2015/2016, when Francis opened the “Holy Year of Mercy.”

Huge rush of pilgrims – concern after Magdeburg attack

Italy’s capital is expecting an unprecedented rush of visitors on the occasion of the jubilee year 2025: the city administration is expecting more than 30 million pilgrims and tourists during the major Catholic event. This will be a major challenge for the city of Rome, which already suffers from mass tourism in normal times.

After the attack in Magdeburg, the authorities in Italy also revised their security concept. On Christmas Eve, the area around the Vatican was heavily guarded; you could only enter St. Peter’s Square after a security check. Snipers were also deployed.

A tough program awaits the ailing Pope

During the church mega-event, numerous special audiences, events and celebrations with the Pope are planned in the Vatican. Despite his old age and health problems, Francis wants to complete the rigorous program as planned.

The 88-year-old Argentine is now the second oldest church leader in history. Shortly before Christmas, the pontiff was plagued by a cold.