On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis inaugurated Jubilee 2025 by opening the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The ceremony, watched by thousands in St Peter’s Square, marks the start of a year-long Catholic celebration expected to draw over 30 million pilgrims.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who has recently been unwell, was wheeled to the ornate bronze door and knocked on it before it opened. Entering in a solemn procession, Pope Francis was followed by clergy as the basilica’s bells rang out across the square.
For the next 12 months, Catholic pilgrims passing through the Holy Door—normally bricked up—will partake in the tradition of receiving a plenary indulgence, a form of forgiveness for sins.
In his Christmas Eve homily during Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to victims of war. “We think of wars, of machine-gunned children, of bombs on schools and hospitals,” he said, highlighting the ongoing suffering in global conflicts.
The Pope’s recent comments condemning the “cruelty” of Israel’s strikes in Gaza, which claimed the lives of children, drew criticism from Israel earlier this week. He will deliver his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi blessing at midday on Wednesday.
Preparations in Rome
Rome has undergone significant preparations for Jubilee 2025. Security measures have been heightened, with 700 officers deployed around the city following a recent car-ramming attack in Germany.
Many of the city’s landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain and Ponte Sant’Angelo, underwent restoration. Furthermore, key infrastructure projects, such as a new road tunnel near the Vatican, finished just days before the Jubilee’s start. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the tunnel’s completion a “little civil miracle.”
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about the Eternal City’s ability to handle the influx of millions of pilgrims, given its already overcrowded sites and unreliable public transport.
A Global Celebration
The Jubilee, organised by the Catholic Church every 25 years, is a time for reflection, penance, and hope. This year’s theme, Pilgrims of Hope, aims to inspire not only the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics but also people from all walks of life.
Holy Doors will be opened at Rome’s three other major basilicas and in Catholic churches worldwide. On Thursday, Pope Francis will open a Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison and preside over a Mass.
Jubilee 2025 includes a packed schedule of cultural and religious events, from exhibitions and conferences to concerts. The Vatican has also modernised its approach, providing online registration and multilingual apps for pilgrims.
Adding a contemporary touch, the event features a mascot named Luce, Latin for “light”, inspired by Japanese anime. Groups from across the globe, including Italian LGBTQ organisation La Tenda di Gionata, have registered, reflecting Pope Francis’s call for inclusivity within the Church.
In his homily, the Pope described the Jubilee as a time for “spiritual renewal.” He urged hope for “our mother Earth, disfigured by profiteering” and for poorer nations burdened by unjust debts.
This Jubilee follows the extraordinary one held in 2016. The next scheduled event will take place in 2033, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
