This is the second Holy Door opened by the Pontiff this year; the first was at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24, marking the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee.
Rome – Italy (12/26/2024, 12:38 PM, Gaudium Press) On the morning of Thursday, December 26, Pope Francis opened a Holy Door for the Jubilee of Hope 2025 at the Roman prison of Rebibbia. Upon arriving at the Our Father Church, adjacent to the penitentiary, the Holy Father knocked six times on the door, which then opened, and he walked through it.
Second Holy Door Opened by Pope Francis This Year
The Pontiff explained, “I wanted the second Holy Door to be in a prison so that everyone, inside and out, could open their hearts and understand that hope does not disappoint.” The first Holy Door opened by the Holy Father was at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24, initiating the 2025 Jubilee.
After the ceremony, Pope Francis presided over a Holy Mass attended by some inmates and their families. Around 300 people participated in the celebration, with another 300 following from outside the church. In his homily, the Pope reflected on hope, emphasizing that it never disappoints, and the importance of keeping the doors of the heart open.
Opening Hearts to Hope That Never Disappoints
Elaborating on the meaningful act of opening the doors, the Holy Father said, “What’s more important is what this symbolizes: opening the heart. Closed hearts don’t help us live. The grace of a Jubilee is, above all, to open our hearts to hope, which never disappoints! In difficult times, we might think everything is over, that nothing can be resolved. But hope never disappoints.”
He then compared hope to an anchor tied to a rope that sustains us during tough moments. “Do not lose hope. This is the message I want to convey to you. Do not lose hope. Sometimes, the rope is tight and hurts our hands. But with the rope in hand, we look towards the shore, towards the anchor. There is always something to move forward with,” he assured.
Let’s Keep Our Hearts Always Open
According to Pope Francis, a closed heart becomes as hard as stone and forgets tenderness. Therefore, he advised keeping our hearts open even in the most challenging situations. “Open wide the doors of your hearts. Each of you knows how to do that. Each of you knows where your door is closed or partially closed,” he stated.
Finally, the Pontiff wished the inmates and everyone present a great Jubilee and much peace, assuring them of his daily prayers for those in prison. He also expressed hopes that the coming year would be better than the current one.
Exchange of Gifts Between the Holy Father and the Penitentiary Administration
At the conclusion of the Holy Mass, the penitentiary administration presented the Pope with a painting of Christ with outstretched hands, created by Elio Lucente, a former prison officer and artist. Additionally, they offered a basket of products made by the inmates of Rebibbia prison.
In return, the Holy Father gifted them with a replica of the Holy Door and a commemorative parchment of the occasion. The inscription read, “In memory of the visit Pope Francis made to the Rebibbia Prison Complex during the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, where he opened the Holy Door in the Our Father Church.” (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
