Holy year 2025: Pope Francis opens gate for millions of pilgrims!

Holy year 2025: Pope Francis opens gate for millions of pilgrims!

on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, Pope Francis ceremoniously opened the holy gate of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome for years and officially heralded the Holy Year 2025. The 88-year-old Pope, who is dependent on a wheelchair, hit the massive bronze door with a small hammer, which was then opened by helpers. This symbolic ceremony marks the beginning of a special religious event, which is largely possible for the city of Rome with the expected 30 million pilgrims and tourists for the city of Rome, as the Stuttgart messages reported.

an event of great importance

The Holy Year, also known as the jubilee year, usually takes place every 25 years, but the Pope can also call for special years. The last of this kind was the Holy Year of Mercy from 2015/2016. With the opening of the holy gate, the Pope puts the faithful into a "time of mercy and forgiveness". During the ceremony, Francis emphasized the solidarity of the believers and the pilgrimage as a sign of peace. He opened the gate at a time when the world is characterized by conflicts and crises and sees his office a role of hope and change, DW said.

Numerous events and audience with the Pope are planned in the coming months, despite his health problems. Italy's capital not only has religious, but also security challenges to overcome. After an attack in Magdeburg, the authorities in Italy took extensive security measures to ensure the safety of the participants during the Holy Year. The St. Peter's Square was also guarded that day, which prepared the city administration for the high number of visitors of over 30 million tourists and pilgrims.

For many, the Holy Year is a new beginning and a departure to faith, at the same time the church tradition is combined with modern approaches, such as the first participation of the LGBTQ community in a pilgrimage that is noted in the official calendar. This could represent a new chapter in church history and shows the constant adaptation of the Catholic Church to the social changes.

DW reported on the opening of the Holy Year and the associated expectations. In addition, the