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Pope opens special ‘Holy Door’ for Catholic Jubilee at Rome prison
Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on December 27, 2024
2 min readLast updated: January 27, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on December 27, 2024
2 min readLast updated: January 27, 2026
By Joshua McElwee
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis made a visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison complexes in Italy, opening a special “Holy Door” for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, in what the Vatican said was the first such action by a Catholic pontiff.
Speaking to hundreds of inmates, guards and staff at the Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome, Francis said he wanted to open the door, part of the prison chapel, and one of only five that will be open during the Holy Year, to show that “hope does not disappoint”.
“In bad moments, we can all think that everything is over,” said the pontiff. “Do not lose hope. This is the message I wanted to give you. Do not lose hope.”
Francis opened the Catholic Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, on Tuesday. A Catholic Jubilee is considered a time of peace, forgiveness and pardon. This Jubilee, dedicated to the theme of hope, will run through Jan. 6, 2026.
Holy Years normally occur every 25 years, and usually involve the opening in Rome of four special “Holy Doors”, which symbolise the door of salvation for Catholics. The doors, located at the papal basilicas in Rome, are only open during Jubilee years.
The Vatican said the opening of the “Holy Door” at Rome’s Rebibbia prison was the first time such a door had been opened by a pope at a prison since the start of the Jubilee year tradition by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300.
Francis has shown special attention for the incarcerated over his 11-year papacy. He often visits prisons in Rome and on his foreign trips.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
A Holy Door is a special entrance in a Catholic church that is opened during a Jubilee year, symbolizing salvation and forgiveness. It is traditionally opened by the Pope.
A Catholic Jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon, celebrated every 25 years. It emphasizes themes of hope, peace, and forgiveness.
Hope is a fundamental virtue in Catholicism, representing trust in God's promises and the belief that good can come from difficult circumstances.
The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, responsible for guiding its teachings, representing the Church globally, and performing ceremonial duties.
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