Rome: Rome is now on the final days of the Jubilee Year 2025, a historic Holy Year inaugurated by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, 2024 and set to formally conclude on Jan. 6, 2026, with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica by Pope Leo XIV.
According to Philippines News Agency, over the past year, nearly 30 million pilgrims from around the world have passed through the Holy Doors of Rome's major basilicas, seeking plenary indulgence and spiritual renewal under the Jubilee theme, 'Pilgrims of Hope,' a call for forgiveness, reconciliation and trust in God's love amid global uncertainty.
The gradual closure of the Holy Doors across Rome's papal basilicas has already begun. The first to close was the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Christmas Day.
The second Holy Door to close was that of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27 during a rite and Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Vicar Baldassare Reina. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, St. John Lateran holds a unique place in Church history as the oldest papal basilica and the first Christian Basilica built to gather the entire city community around its bishop. Its closure underscored the endurance of Christianity, which flourished even during periods of persecution, long before it was officially recognized under Emperor Constantine.
On Dec. 28, the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was closed during a Mass attended by thousands of pilgrims and presided over by Cardinal Archpriest James Michael Harvey. In his homily, Cardinal Harvey reflected on the theological virtues of faith, charity and hope-cornerstones of the Jubilee message. "The Holy Door is not a mere material threshold, but a passage to pass through, leaving behind what weighs down the heart, to enter the space of mercy," Harvey explained. "Hope means awaiting with trust the salvation already given and still journeying toward its fulfillment."
"Hope is nourished by finding the courage to delve deeply, digging beneath the surface of reality and breaking the crust of resignation," Harvey said. "As the Holy Door closes, may the door of faith, charity, and hope remain open in our hearts." The liturgy concluded with a solemn blessing. Built over what tradition holds to be the burial site of Saint Paul, the basilica stands as one of Rome's most ancient Christian sites. Though devastated by a catastrophic fire in the 19th century, it was rebuilt and completed in 1840, continuing its role as a place of pilgrimage and prayer.
The final and most anticipated closing will be on Jan. 6 at 9:30 a.m., when Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Closure Rite and Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, officially ending the Holy Year during the Feast of the Epiphany. The event will symbolically bring to a close a year that has drawn millions to Rome in search of grace, healing and renewal. The next ordinary jubilee, following the tradition of every 25 years, will be in 2050.
