Pope, plans to open spiritual portals, in the Vatican holy doors in rituals starting Christmas Eve
Pope Francis and the Vatican will open five spiritual portals starting Christmas Eve that are part of Roman Catholic Church rituals that date back to 1300.The Jubilee Year rituals, which involve opening Holy Doors, occur every 25 years.The Holy Doors are located at the Vatican in Rome. They will be un-bricked and opened until Jan. 6, 2025. Local Catholic churches also mark the Jubilee rituals by opening their own designated holy doors. The start of the Holy Year also includes pilgrimages.
The Catholic tradition links to Old Testament Jewish rituals of jubilee years which were initiated every 50 years with slaves freed and land reverting to original owners. Pope Francis has decreed the holy portals will be opened including oneDec. 26 at Rebibbia prison near Rome. That is a first. “Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 24. He will then open the Holy Doors at the major basilicas of St. John Lateran Dec. 29, St. Mary Major Jan. 1 and St. Paul Outside the Walls Jan. 5,” according to Catholic News Service.
The Pope said in a statement the opening of the prison aims to bring hope to those behind bars and encourage some clemency efforts.“I think of prisoners who, deprived of their freedom, daily feel the harshness of detention and its restrictions, lack of affection, and, in more than a few cases, lack of respect,” Francis said, according to EWTN.
“I propose to the governments that during the jubilee year they take initiatives that restore hope, forms of amnesty or pardon that help people to regain confidence in themselves and in society, ways of reintegration into the community,” the pope said, according to EWTN.
