Pope Francis opens St Peter’s Holy Door to launch jubilee

Mangalore Today News Network

Vatican, Dec 10, 2015: Pope Francis pushed open the huge bronze Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome to launch the Catholic Church’s "Year of Mercy" on Dec 8.

 

 

 

Tens of thousands attended a Mass in St Peter’s Square, in spite of winter cold  for the start of the Pope’s "revolution of tenderness".  It took place place amid tight security with extra police and soldiers deployed, and a no-fly zone imposed.

Under the year’s theme of mercy, the Pope has said priests can absolve women who have had abortions.  During the jubilee celebrations, one of the most important events in the Roman Catholic Church, pilgrims travel to Rome and religious sites around the world.

At the end of the Mass, Francis opened the basilica’s Holy Door. He said that by passing through it, Catholics should take on the role of the Good Samaritan.  It is the first time the Holy Door has been opened since the Great Jubilee in the 2000 called for by St John Paul II. It has been bricked up since then.

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, 88, attended Tuesday’s event.