Tracing the Roots of the Jubilee Doors | Vaticano

Tracing the Roots of the Jubilee Doors

As the Jubilee approaches, a growing sense of joy and excitement fills the City of Rome, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere. This mirrors the celebration's origins, when the sound of the ram's horn—called "Jobel" in Hebrew, from which the Christian term "Jubilee" is derived—echoed through the city. In Jewish tradition, the ram’s horn was blown to announce sacred times, including the Year of Jubilee, a time for freedom, forgiveness, and the restoration of relationships. The Holy Doors, powerful symbols of the Jubilee and signs of mercy and hope, stand ready to open. Passing through these doors represents a spiritual journey, a crossing from sin to grace, symbolizing forgiveness, renewal, and the embrace of God’s love, healing, and hope.

Did you know that the very first Holy Door in history was not in Rome? At the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila, where Celestine V was crowned, a Holy Door was opened in 1294 to commemorate that historic event. Celestine V, a humble monk who became pope, is remembered for his deep spirituality and his significant act of instituting the "Perdonanza," an early form of Jubilee offering plenary indulgence to pilgrims. Only six years later, the first Holy Year was announced in Rome.

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the very first Jubilee in history. Originally intended to occur every 100 years, the interval was later reduced to 50, and eventually to every 25 years. The heart of the Holy Year became the City of Rome, drawing pilgrims to the tombs of the apostles and culminating in the passage through the Holy Doors.

The tradition of the Holy Door in Rome began with the Basilica of St. John in Lateran in 1425, followed by St. Peter's Basilica in 1475. These doors remained sealed until the next Jubilee, embodying the themes of mercy and renewal. The bronze Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, added in 1950, preserves its historic placement aligned with the ancient Constantinian Basilica.

This Jubilee, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and inaugurate a fifth, special Holy Door at Rebibbia Prison. Unlike the traditional Holy Doors of Rome’s major basilicas, this door stands in a place of confinement, extending the Jubilee’s message of hope and mercy to prisoners and marginalized communities worldwide. This Jubilee of Hope seeks to inspire acts of compassion and mercy, particularly through its outreach to those in need, such as the prisoners at Rebibbia, exemplifying reconciliation and solidarity in action.