Pope Francis inaugurated the Holy Year at Rome’s main prison, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once-every-quarter-century celebration. The Holy Year is expected to draw around 32 million pilgrims to Rome. Francis reenacted the gesture of opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica by knocking on the chapel door at Rebibbia prison and walking across the threshold.
The Jubilee year, a tradition dating back to 1300 and occurring every 25 years, officially commenced with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. Francis emphasized the importance of hope for the 2025 Jubilee and highlighted the significance of prisoners in this celebration. The Jubilee will culminate in a special Mass for inmates at St. Peter's on December 14, 2025.
