Catholic faithful cross Holy Door in the Vatican to receive indulgence

(25 Dec 2024)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vatican City - 25 December 2024
1. Tracking shot of faithful crossing the Holy Door
2. Various faithful crossing the door, touching it and making the sign of the cross
3. Various faithful crossing the door and taking pictures
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Blanca Martin, faithful from San Diego, California:
"You feel so humble when you go through the door that once you go through is almost like a release, it's a release of emotions. Some people cry, I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to cry because I am wearing make up. But it's almost like a release of emotions, you feel like now you are able to let go and put everything in the hands of God. See I am getting emotional (she starts crying). It's just a beautiful experience."
5. Faithful carrying wooden cross through the Holy Door
6. Faithful waiting to cross
7. Faithful outside door after crossing praying
8. Various faithful crossing and taking pictures with mobile phones
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alejandro Gudino, Faithful from Mexico:
"The truth it it was really nice to be able to go through the holy doors, to have the opportunity every 25 years, to be able to pass through such sacred doors and to have such a beautiful time among the collaborators of the kingdom of Christ, to have such a beautiful time together, walking on a pilgrimage to meet Jesus Christ himself in the Eucharist."
10. Various faithful taking pictures and crossing the door
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Roz Sawad, faithful from Australia:
"I came today to Saint Pietro to go through the Holy Door. I did go through that door and it was such a different feeling, it was a blessing for us, to come from a very far place to celebrate Christmas at the same time and also the Jubilee of the Church this coming year. It's such a blessing, it's bringing joy to the world, and hopefully hope and peace will be all over."
12. Various wide basilica and pilgrims in the square
13. Cupola of St. Peter's Basilica
STORYLINE:
Faithful from all over the word started flocking to St. Peter’s square and lining up braving chilly temperatures to cross the Holy Door on Wednesday and thus receive the Catholic Church indulgence for their sins.

With the suggestive ceremonial opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year, a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

According to church teaching, Catholics who confess their sins are forgiven and therefore released from the eternal or spiritual punishment of damnation.

An indulgence is designed to remove the “temporal” punishment of sin that may remain — the consequence of the wrongdoing that might disrupt the sinner’s relationships with others.

"You feel so humble when you go through the door that once you go through is almost like a release, a release of emotions" said Blanca Martin, from San Diego, California.

"Some people cry, I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to cry because I am wearing make up. But it's almost like a release of emotions, you feel like now you are able to let go and put everything in the hands of God" she added with tears in her eyes.

"I did go through that door and it was such a different feeling, it was a blessing for us, to come from a very far place to celebrate Christmas at the same time and also the Jubilee of the Church this coming year," said Roz Sawad from Australia.



AP video by Silvia Stellacci and Issia Montelione

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