Pope Francis Announces Dates of the Opening and Closing of the Holy Doors of the Jubilee 2025 in Rome

By Ononye VC
The jubilee year will begin on December 24, 2024 and will end on January 6, 2026
At 5:30 pm on Thursday, May 9, Pope Francis presided over the delivery and reading of the “Spes Non Confundi” Bull of the Jubilee 2025, and the Second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The ceremony of the delivery and reading of the Bull took place in front of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. After the liturgical greeting, the Holy Father introduced the celebration and delivered the Bull of the Jubilee 2025 — in front of the Holy Door –, to the Archpriests of the Papal Basilicas, to some Representatives of the Church in the world, and to Apostolic Protonotaries. Then Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, Dean of the College of Apostolic Protonotaries and Regent of the Papal Household Prefecture, read some significant passages of the “Spes Non Confundi” Bull, heralding the Jubilee 2025. Among the most awaited passages was that of the exact dates of the opening and closing of the Jubilee. In this regard, Pope Francis’ Bull states: (. . . ) with the certainty that this Jubilee Year will be an experience of grace and hope for the whole Church, I have ordered that the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, be opened from December 24 of the current year 2024, thus initiating the ordinary Jubilee. On the following Sunday, December 29, 2024, I will open the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Saint John Lateran, which on November 9 of this year will celebrate the 1700 years of its dedication. Then, on January 1, 2025, Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God, the Holy Door will be opened of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. And, finally, on Sunday, January 5, the Holy Door will be opened of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls. These last three Holy Doors will close on Sunday, December 28, of the same year. The Pope also gave indications for Cathedrals around the world, namely: Moreover, I establish that Sunday, December 29, 2024, in all the Cathedrals and Co-Cathedrals, the diocesan Bishops celebrate the Eucharist as solemn opening of the Jubilee Year, according to the Ritual that will be prepared for the occasion. In the case of the celebration in a Co-Cathedral church, the Bishop can be substituted by a delegate designated expressly for it. That the pilgrimage from the church chosen for the collectio, to the Cathedral, be a sign of the path of hope that, illumined by the Word of God, unites the believers. That some passages be read in it of the present Document and the Jubilee Indulgence be announced to the people, which can be obtained according to the prescriptions contained in the same Ritual for the celebration of the Jubilee in the particular Churches. During the Holy Year, which in the particular Churches will end on Sunday, December, 28, 2025, an effort be made for the People of God to welcome, with full participation, both the announcement of the hope of God’s grace as well as the signs that attest to its effectiveness. Finally, the Pope orders thus the closing of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica and, consequently, the conclusion of the Jubilee Year: The ordinary Jubilee will end with the closing of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican on January 6, 2026, Epiphany of the Lord. May the light of hope be able to reach all people, as a message of God’s love addressed to all. And may the Church be a faithful witness of this announcement in all parts of the world.
News credit- Zenit