Pope Francis will inaugurate the Catholic Church’s Holy Year on Tuesday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica with a solemn ceremony marking the beginning of this sacred tradition.
The 88-year-old pontiff will perform the ancient rite of opening the Holy Door, which remains sealed from the inside between Holy Years.
The event coincides with Christmas Eve and sets the tone for the Vatican’s festive celebrations.
The Catholic Church observes a Holy Year, or Jubilee Year, every 25 years. It is a time of spiritual renewal during which believers can seek forgiveness of sins through prayer, penance, and pilgrimage.
Pilgrims traditionally journey to Rome to pass through the Holy Doors of the Eternal City, a symbolic act of faith and reconciliation.
During the Holy Year, Catholics may receive a plenary indulgence, a special grace that absolves temporal punishment for sin, provided specific spiritual conditions are fulfilled.
This year’s Jubilee is expected to draw massive crowds, with projections estimating between 30 and 45 million pilgrims and visitors to Rome.
Following the opening of the Holy Door, Pope Francis will preside over the traditional Christmas Mass, likely using the occasion to denounce global conflicts and advocate for peace.
The pontiff has recently renewed calls for a Christmas truce amidst ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, Christmas celebrations are expected to be muted due to the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and the midnight Mass will proceed as usual, but festive decorations and the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Church of the Nativity have been canceled, reflecting the somber mood in the region.
The Holy Year opening and the Christmas liturgies are anticipated to reinforce messages of hope, peace, and reconciliation amid challenging global circumstances.
