Jubilee pilgrims pass 18-million mark

(ANSA) - Vatican City, October 17 - The number of pilgrims visiting Rome for the Catholic Holy Year Jubilee of Mercy has passed the 18-million mark, according to the official website of the Holy Year, a site managed by the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation.
    The exact number of "Holy Year participants" who have come to Rome for Jubilee events and to enter the Holy Door at St Peter's is now 18,176,359, it said.
    The pilgrims passed the 10-million mark on June 22.
    Pilgrim numbers were initially below expectations, partly because of terror attacks in Paris and Brussels. The Jubilee started on December 8 and runs till November 20.