Pope Francis will open the Holy Year of the Catholic Church tonight in the Basilica of “St. Peter“, DPA reported, quoted by News.bg.
At a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve, the 88-year-old pontiff will open the Holy Door, which is usually locked, and will pass through it.
The Catholic Church traditionally celebrates a Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee Year, once every 25 years. According to Catholic beliefs, during this period, believers can receive forgiveness of their sins through prayer and repentance. This also includes a pilgrimage to Rome and passing through the Holy Doors in the Eternal City. During the anniversary year, more than 30 million pilgrims and visitors are expected in the Italian capital, with some estimates reaching 45 million.
Following the ceremony, Francis will celebrate the traditional Christmas mass, kicking off the Vatican's Christmas celebrations. The pontiff is expected to use the service to express his strong stance against war and violence and to remember the suffering of people around the world. He has recently called for a Christmas truce in the face of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, celebrations are expected to be more modest this year because of the war in Gaza.
The procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and the midnight mass in Bethlehem will take place as usual. However, there will be no festive decorations in the small West Bank town, including a Christmas tree with lights in front of the Church of the Nativity.