On December 28, the closing of the Holy Doors of the papal basilicas ends. According to the bull of indiction “Spes non confundit”, the hope is that the People of God may have welcomed with full participation both the announcement of hope of God’s grace and the signs that attest to its effectiveness
Don Paweł Rytel-Andrianik – Vatican City
The solemn opening of the Jubilee Year in the particular churches took place on Sunday 29 December 2024. The bishops designated churches or chapels where the faithful could obtain Jubilee indulgences in the territory of the dioceses, just like those who made pilgrimages to Rome. This Sunday, December 28, Cardinal James Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, presides over the Eucharistic celebration here with the rite of closing the Holy Door.
Pilgrims of hope
The motto of the 2025 Jubilee was the words “Peregrinantes in Spem” – Pilgrims of Hope. In the Bull of indiction Pope Francis hoped that everyone would have hope. Hope is present in the heart of every person as a desire and expectation of good, even if we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The Pope had underlined that we often meet discouraged people who look to the future with skepticism and pessimism, as if nothing could give them happiness. In this context, Pope Francis had expressed the hope that the Jubilee would be an opportunity for everyone to revive hope.
Closing of the Holy Door in the Papal Basilicas
The closing of the Holy Door in the papal basilicas of Rome is a visible sign of the last days of the Holy Year. On Christmas day, the closing rite of the Holy Door of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore took place, presided over by Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas. “The heart of God remains open”, underlined the archpriest of the Liberian Basilica who asked to open ourselves to listening to the Word, to welcoming others, to forgiveness. Hope is light to be translated into prayer and attention to the poor to be the Church “with the Gospel in her hands and her brother in her heart”, stated the cardinal.
The Holy Door at the Lateran was closed on Saturday 27 December. “Today, closing the Holy Door, we raise to the Father the hymn of thanksgiving for all the signs of his love for us, while we keep in our hearts the awareness and hope that remains open for all peoples: his embrace of mercy and peace”, said Cardinal Vicar Baldassare Reina, Archpriest of the Basilica, who presided over the closing rite.
January 6th, completion of the Jubilee
Pope Leo XIV will conclude the Ordinary Jubilee by closing the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. This will happen on January 6, 2026, the solemnity of the Epiphany. Announcing the closing of the Holy Door, Pope Francis had wished: “May the light of Christian hope reach every person, as a message of God’s love addressed to everyone! And may the Church be a faithful witness to this announcement in every part of the world!” (Hope does not disappoint6).
