Pope Francis kicked off the 2025
Jubilee of the Catholic Church on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, by
opening the 'Holy Door' of St Peter's Basilica, before a crowd
of thousands of faithful.
Premier Giorgia Meloni was among the officials present.
By walking through the Holy Door over the next 12 months,
Catholics will be able to obtain a 'plenary indulgence' for
their sins.
"The opening of the Holy Door on #Christmas Eve symbolises a
passage—an Easter of renewal—to enter into the new life offered
to us through the encounter with Christ," the Argentine pontiff
said via X earlier on Tuesday.
In the coming days, holy doors will also be opened at Rome's
Rebibbia prison and at the Italian capital's three other major
basilicas - St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul
Outside the Walls.
The Jubilee, which features a rich programme of shows,
conferences, concerts and religious events, is expected to bring
over 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
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