Pope Francis Opens Holy Year 2025 with Historic Ceremony

The 88-year-old pontiff inaugurated the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year, emphasizing hope, forgiveness, and global peace efforts.

Pope Francis officially opened the Holy Year 2025 on Christmas Eve by unsealing the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica, a tradition symbolizing forgiveness and renewal.
For the first time in history, a Holy Door was opened in a prison, with the pope visiting Rome's Rebibbia facility to bring the message of hope and second chances to inmates.
The Vatican expects over 30 million pilgrims to visit Rome for the Holy Year, creating concerns about crowd management and logistical challenges in the city.
In his Christmas message, the pope called for peace in global conflicts, urging dialogue in the Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and other regions facing humanitarian crises.
The Holy Year, celebrated every 25 years, offers Catholics the opportunity for a plenary indulgence through pilgrimage, prayer, and acts of penance.