Holy Door: opening marks the beginning of the Holy Year
Passed through by millions of pilgrims during the upcoming Jubilee, the Holy Door refers back to Christ and his mercy
An extraordinary path
The rite of opening St. Peter’s Holy Door marks the beginning of the Jubilee, which offers the faithful an “extraordinary path” for their souls. A Holy Door is also present in the other major Roman basilicas and in various churches, which by tradition are pilgrimage destinations and offer by papal concession the possibility of earning an indulgence.
Jesus is the Door
Particularly significant is the fact that through the Holy Door one can only enter and not leave. To go through it is in fact to express the will to enter the heart of Christ, in tune with his feelings, in order to receive the merciful embrace of the Father. It is Jesus himself in verse 9 of chapter 10 of John’s Gospel who says “I am the Door, if anyone enters through me he will be saved…”
Paolo Ondarza – Vatican City