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Pope Leo XIV surprisingly carried the Jubilee cross in procession and led the curia through the Jubilee door. The Holy Father received the cross from a young female volunteer wearing a bright green vest that allows us to identify those who carry out the service of welcoming the faithful during this Holy Year. Then, the pontiff Leo XIV began the procession to St. Peter's Basilica, to lead the five thousand participants to the Holy Door. Behind him were Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and organizer of the Jubilee, and the cardinals who attended, including Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Leonardo Sandri, Vice-Dean. A different route from that of many pilgrims who cross Via della Conciliazione every day to get to the Vatican Basilica. In prayer, while a leading choir intoned the Litany of the Saints, many employees of the Holy See left the Paul VI Hall, following the Pontiff, and passed through the Arch of the Bells.
The crowd, then arrived in St. Peter's Square, on the steps of the basilica, to head to the entrance. The passage through the Holy Door took place in meditation, meditating and praying. Then the Mass began shortly after, with the Pontiff preceded by the ecclesiastics of the Roman Curia. "We are living a special day" underlined the Bishop of Rome in his homily. And so many lived it. A nun from the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life tried to describe to the Vatican media the emotion and joy of this Jubilee of the Holy See for having felt part of the family, beyond a day of work. "I felt strongly that we really work for the Church, we work for the Church and we all work together" she explained. A historic day for an employee of the Vatican Museums, who also lived the Jubilee of 2000 with the Holy See: "It is a special day, of reflection", she acknowledged. A cleric focused on the image of the Pope who crossed the Holy Door, "like the good shepherd, who took up the cross and all of us behind him, walking for this, to cross, in our turn, the threshold of the basilica together. This symbol was truly beautiful, emotional". Similar feelings were described by an employee of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi: "Unity was perceived - the woman confided - because each individual office, operationally independent, is connected to the others and works in synergy. A big family".
Source: Vatican News IT
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