The rite of opening the Holy Doors of the main basilicas of Rome to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee Year is perhaps one of the most solemn events of the Catholic Church, with centuries of tradition. The ...

The Jubilee begins with a symbolic moment: the Pope opening the Holy Door, which this year took place on Christmas Eve. The tradition, dating back to the 15th century, sees the Pope open the Holy Door ...

With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it.

Even in death, Pope Francis remained a trailblazer — becoming the only pontiff to open, but not close, the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in what has become a fateful symbol of his papal legacy.

After breaking open the special door on Christmas Eve, Francis stopped at the threshold to pray briefly in silence as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica pealed out into the cool Rome night. Pope ...

As the Pope left the Rebibbia prison, he stopped to greet the 300 inmates and staff who had waited outside of the crowded chapel on the cold December morning. Pope Francis walks through the Holy Door ...

Pope Francis prayed that the Jubilee Year may become “a season of hope” and reconciliation in a world at war and suffering humanitarian crises, especially in Gaza and Ukraine, as he opened the Holy ...

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Dec. 24, 2024. (Credit: Remo Casilli/AP.) Listen On his wheelchair, Pope Francis began the celebration of Christmas by opening ...

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025. “O Christ, bright star of the morning, incarnation of infinite love, ...