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Jubilee: In Rome, the “Holy Doors” begin to close
© Antoine Mekary | ALETEIA
I.Media – published on 12/26/25
More than 32 million pilgrims passed through Rome’s Holy Doors since their opening, with “incredible peaks” last May following the election of Leo XIV.
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On the afternoon of December 25, 2025, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas solemnly closed the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Those of the other major Roman basilicas will in turn be closed over the coming days, culminating in the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6 by Pope Leo XIV, which will bring the Jubilee Year of 2025 to a close.
For the Jubilee — a major event of the Catholic Church celebrated every 25 years — five “Holy Doors” were opened in December 2024 and January 2025: those of the four major basilicas — St. Peter’s in the Vatican, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran — as well as the Holy Door of Rebibbia Prison in Rome.
Jubilee tradition calls for pilgrims coming to Rome to pass through these doors as a sign of conversion and forgiveness of sins. A plenary indulgence can also be gained.
The first basilica to close its Holy Door, as the Jubilee draws to an end, is St. Mary Major. This year, the building located near Termini Station in central Rome received particular attention because it is the place where Pope Francis chose to be buried.
The Argentine pontiff was especially attached to this basilica, and in particular to a Marian icon it houses, the Salus Populi Romani. According to official figures, more than 20 million people crossed the threshold of the Marian basilica’s Holy Door over the past 12 months.
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In the coming days, the Holy Doors of all the other basilicas will also be closed. Cardinal Reina will shut the doors of the Basilica of St. John Lateran on December 27. On December 28, it will be the turn of St. Paul Outside the Walls, with the rite carried out by its archpriest, the American cardinal Michael Harvey.
The Holy Door of Rebibbia Prison, opened by Pope Francis on December 26, 2024, was closed on December 20 by Cardinal Baldo Reina, vicar of Rome. On that occasion, a Mass was celebrated during which 10 inmates received the sacrament of confirmation, and two made their First Communion.
Pilgrims will still have a few days to pass through the final Holy Door, that of St. Peter’s Basilica. Its two heavy bronze doors will be closed by Leo XIV on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. The Pope will thus conclude this historic Holy Year, marked by large crowds of faithful from around the world, but above all by the death of Pope Francis and his own election as his successor.
On December 18, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella, chief organizer of the Jubilee, announced to the Italian news agency LaPresse that more than 32 million pilgrims had passed through Rome’s Holy Doors since their opening, with “incredible peaks” last May following the election of Leo XIV.
Read also :A Jubilee Christmas in Malta: The gift of hope
Read also :What is a jubilee?
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