Rome’s St. Paul’s Basilica Opens Holy Door for Jubilee 2025
In the year marking 2000 years since the birth of Christ, Rome’s four major basilicas, including St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, have opened their Holy Doors for Jubilee pilgrims. The event, part of the ongoing celebrations for the Christian millennium, kicked off on January 5, with Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the basilica’s Archpriest, leading the ceremonies. Thousands of faithful participated in the inauguration.
Cardinal Harvey’s message echoed the theme of this Jubilee Year, encouraging believers to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage that deepens their faith. The basilica, located a few kilometers from where the apostle Paul met his martyrdom, stands as a testament to the apostle’s unwillingness to compromise his beliefs. The opening of the Holy Door, he noted, symbolizes Christ’s invitation to follow His path of love and reconciliation, a timeless message especially poignant in today’s challenging world.
Amidst global adversities, Cardinal Harvey invited all to embrace the role of "prophets of hope," echoing Pope Francis’ words that true hope is grounded in God’s unshakable fidelity. He urged everyone to respond to the Jubilee’s call to pilgrimage, not just as tourists, but as true seekers of hope, ready to embrace the promise of new beginnings that the Holy Year offers.
