December 10th 2024.
As the year comes to a close, the time has almost arrived to open the sacred portals once again. Pope Francis is diligently preparing for this ancient tradition, which involves unbricking and opening five symbolic doors that represent the pathway to salvation. It's been 25 long years since these portals were last opened, right around the turn of the millennium. Needless to say, they may be a bit rusty and in need of some care.
This year, there is a special addition to the ceremony - for the first time ever, one of the portals will be opened in a prison. The Pope explained that this is a way to invite prisoners to look towards the future with hope. The practice of opening these portals dates all the way back to 1300, and the ritual itself has been carried out since 1423. These portals are only opened in Jubilee years, which harken back to the Old Testament concept of having one's sins forgiven.
Speaking of Jubilee years, 2025 happens to be one of them. So if there's anything on your conscience that you've been meaning to confess, this may be the perfect opportunity. Now, you may be wondering where these sacred portals are located. They can be found at St. Peter's Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and for the first time, Rebibbia Prison in Rome.
The portals at the basilicas have been bricked up from the inside, and the walls will be taken down in preparation for the Pope's walk through them, symbolizing the start of the Holy Year. These doors will remain open for the entirety of the year, allowing pilgrims to pass through and seek forgiveness until the Jubilee comes to a close on January 6, 2026. On that day, the Pope will be the last person to walk back through the portals before they are sealed up once again.
The opening of the portal at Rebibbia Prison will be a bit different, as it will be the main door of the prison that will serve as a symbol for all prisons in the world. As we look towards the start of the Holy Year, the Vatican has also unveiled its Nativity scene for the year. This display features a baby Jesus lying on a manger lined with a Palestinian keffiyeh, a black and white scarf that is commonly used to show support for the state. During a ceremony to ordain new cardinals, the Pope was seen with a bruise on his chin, causing some concern for his health. However, a Vatican spokesman reassured everyone that it was just a result of the Pope falling and hitting a nightstand with his chin. This is not the first time the Pope has had a mishap - during a trip to Colombia in 2017, he ended up with a black eye after hitting his head on a support bar when his popemobile stopped abruptly.
Overall, the Pope hopes that this Jubilee will serve as a meaningful and personal encounter with Jesus, the "door" to our salvation. He has also asked for prayers for the people of Ukraine and those who are suffering due to war in Gaza. As the world continues to face challenges, the Pope reminds us to not lose our compassion and empathy for others. Let us all keep these words in mind as we enter into the Holy Year and look towards a brighter future.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
