Pope Francis opens the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, officially opening the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. During the Christmas Eve Mass, he reassured us that the Christ Child of Bethlehem brings infinite hope and joy to the world.
Deborah Castellano Luboff
On the evening of December 24, 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, ushering in the widely anticipated 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
The liturgical gesture of opening the doors at the beginning of evening Christmas Mass, as explained in the papal bull on the non-proclamation of the special Jubilee, allows the Pope to celebrate the Ordinary Holy Year, a historic event that takes place every 25 years. Inaugurated the year.
The Jubilee year usually ends with the closing of the same Holy Door on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, January 6, 2026.
Meaning of sacred door
A sacred door is considered “sacred” because it calls all who enter through it to live a holy life. In the footsteps of the Pope, during the singing of the Jubilee hymn, representatives of the entire People of God cross its threshold, and countless pilgrims of hope from every nation and language visit St. Peter’s Basilica, a prelude to the celebration of the Jubilee. It crossed that threshold as a song. The mystery of salvation during the Jubilee.
Pope Francis standing at the entrance to the open Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica
The origins of this custom date back to Pope Martin V, who opened the Holy Door to enter the Lateran Basilica during the Extraordinary Jubilee of 1423. It was first used in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Jubilee year of 1450.
Its location corresponds to that found today on the back wall of the chapel dedicated to the Mother of God by Pope John VII. In 1500, Pope Alexander VI gave a ritual to this symbol for the opening of the Jubilee. This ritual remained virtually unchanged for centuries until the previous brick wall was removed in 2000 and a new brick wall was removed in 2000. Already in 1983 the Bronze Door Ceremony took place.
The last time the Holy Door was opened during a regular Jubilee year was in 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in 2015 for the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
A Jubilee to strengthen our faith and recognize Christ in our midst
“During the Jubilee, may the light of Christian hope shine on every man and woman as a message of God’s love for all people! And may the Church faithfully carry this message in every part of the world. “May I testify to this,” the Pope prayed. world! “
Evening Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
The Pope said that this Jubilee could “strengthen our faith, help us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, and transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.” We are encouraged to pray and prepare throughout this year.
Please bring us back into your Father’s embrace.
In his homily, the Pope addressed the Jubilee theme of hope. He began to remember a passage from the Gospel of St. Luke. It tells of the time when the angel of the Lord bathed in light and illuminated the night, bringing glad tidings to the shepherds. people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, the Lord Christ” (Luke 2:10-11).
At that moment, the Pope reflected on how heaven appears on earth amidst the wonder of the poor and the singing of angels. “God became one of us, that we might be made like himself; He came down to us to exalt us and restore us to the embrace of the Father.” he emphasized.
A little child gives hope to the world
The Pope reiterated that in Immanuel, “God is with us,” we find hope.
Evening Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
“The infinitely great One made Himself small,” he marveled, “and the glory of heaven appeared on earth like a little child.”
The Pope continued, “If God visits us, even when our hearts seem like lowly mangers, we can say with all our hearts: “Hope is not dead. It is alive and will encompass our lives forever!”
“There is hope for you.”
The Holy Father recalled that with the opening of the Sacred Door a new Jubilee is inaugurated and invites each of us to enter into the mystery of this extraordinary event.
“Tonight, the door of hope has opened wide to the world,” he said, “God speaks to each of us and says, “There is hope for you too!””
So he said, “Let us hasten and see the Lord who has been born for us. Our hearts are joyful and attentive, ready to meet him; Christian hope is not a “happy ending” for which we passively wait, but rather a promise to be welcomed here and now in a world of suffering and sighs. It is the promise of the Lord.”
The end of drowning in mediocrity
Importantly, Pope Francis stressed that the Jubilee year is “a call not to be late, not to get bogged down in old habits, not to indulge in mediocrity and laziness.”
The Pope recalled that St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, said that hope calls us to be angry at what is wrong and to find the courage to change it.
With this in mind, the Pope said that as disciples of the Lord, “we find great hope in him and are invited to carry that hope without delay as pilgrims of light in the darkness of this world.” He encouraged me by saying, “You’re doing well.” . ”
Rediscovering the joy of encountering the Lord
“Brothers and sisters, this is Jubilee,” the Pope reminded.
Evening Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
“This is a season of hope, where we are invited to rediscover the joy of encountering the Lord,” he emphasized, and how the Jubilee “calls us to spiritual rebirth and renews our Will you commit to changing the world? This is truly a time of joy.”
Pope Francis concluded by offering food for thought.
“Dear sisters, dear brothers, tonight the Holy Door of God’s heart is opened before you. He was born for every man and woman. With Him, joy flourishes. ” With Him, life changes, and hope never disappoints. ”
opening of the sacred door
On Christmas Day, Pope Francis will deliver the Urbi e Orbi message from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the people of Rome and the world at noon.
On December 26, for the first time in the Jubilee tradition, Pope Francis will open the fifth Sacred Gate in a Roman prison, a sign of hope demonstrating the Pope’s continued closeness to detainees.
On Sunday, December 29th, the Pope will open the Sacred Doors of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which celebrated its 1700th anniversary on November 9th this year.
And on January 1, 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Holy Doors of the Basilica of St. Mary the Pope will be opened.
Finally, on Sunday, January 5, 2025, the Holy Doors of the Pontifical Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls will open.
These last three sacred doors will close on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
