Thousands of people arrive in Rome these days to cross the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which in just two weeks more than half a million people have already crossed. And it is that thousands of tourists have matched their holidays with the Jubilee to take advantage of what they consider a unique opportunity for believers.
The Italian capital is, more than ever, the epicenter of the Catholic world, with people from all corners of the planet who arrive in the city on the occasion of the Holy Year 2025.
On December 24, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica to inaugurate his first ordinary Holy Year, although he instituted an extraordinary one in 2016 dedicated to mercy.
Since then, more than half a million pilgrims have crossed the entrance and it is expected that throughout the year 32 million will go through the opening that will offer them the plenary indulgence.
In addition to visiting the “Holy Doors”, people visit the main tourist attractions of Rome, among which stands out for example the Colosseum, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
In that sense, Daniela – an Argentine tourist who visited Rome with her boyfriend – said that “I always wanted to get to know Rome, walk through the coliseum and imagine the whole story that happened through that magical place, for me it was unique to be able to be there. And of course, in passing we also passed through the Holy Gates and took the opportunity to thank God for everything and for this wonderful journey he allowed us to make.”
In the Catholic tradition, the Jubilee or ‘Holy Year’ is a time dedicated “to consolidating faith and solidarity” that is celebrated every 25 years, during which the Church grants indulgences or the forgiveness of sins to all those who do works of charity and cross some of the Holy Doors: in St. Peter’s or in the other Roman basilicas.
According to Infobae, since January 5, when the Holy Door of San Pablo de Extramuros was opened, the faithful can cross the four Holy Doors of the Roman papal basilicas: in addition to that of St. Paul and that of St. Peter in the Vatican, also that of Santa María La Mayor and that of St. John Lateran.