First of the Jubilee Holy Doors Close in Rome's Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major with Others to Follow
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On Dec. 25., in the (Liberian) Basilica of Sanit Mary Major, the rite of closing the Holy Door took place.
The tolling of the Sperduta , the ancient bell that evokes the spirit of pilgrimage, accompanies the closing of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. At dusk on December 25th, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, in Rome, many pilgrims attended the ancient rite inside the Marian basilica, presided over by Cardinal Archpriest Rolandas Makrickas. "As we close this Holy Door, we believe that the heart of the Risen One, an inexhaustible source of new life, remains always open to those who hope in Him," he states.
An ancient and solemn rite
In silence, he knelt on the threshold, pausing in prayer. Finally, he rose and closed the doors. Almost a year has passed since their opening, on January 1, 2025. The decision to close them on December 25 is no coincidence: in Santa Maria Maggiore, in fact, the relics of the Holy Crib where the newborn Baby Jesus was laid are kept.
"What closes is not divine grace, but a special time for the Church, and what remains forever open is the heart of merciful God," Cardinal Makrickas emphasized during the Mass following the rite, which was enlivened by the Liberian Choir, which in this Jubilee Year celebrates the 480th anniversary of its formal foundation. "Today we saw the Holy Door close," the cardinal emphasized, "but the door that truly matters remains the door of our heart: it opens when we listen to the Word of God, it expands when we welcome our brothers and sisters, it is strengthened when we forgive and ask for forgiveness." Hence, the invitation to remember that "crossing the Holy Door was a gift, and becoming, from today, open doors for others is our mission for the future." A simple and solemn gesture thus becomes "grateful remembrance and a courageous mission."
In his homily, the archpriest highlighted the unique nature of the Jubilee of Hope that is about to conclude: a Holy Year begun by Pope Francis and continued by Pope Leo. A similar precedent exists only in the Holy Year of 1700, opened by Innocent XII and closed by Clement XI.
Peace is possible
The Jubilee of Hope, the cardinal continues, was "a time in which the Church proclaimed, once again to the entire world, that God is not far away, that peace is possible, that mercy is stronger than sin." And following in the footsteps of Popes Francis and Leo, Makrickas recalls that hope is not illusion, nor escapism, nor naive optimism, but rather "a concrete force that opens new paths," "a decision in the spirit of love," "participation in the life of the Word made flesh, a light that no night can extinguish."
Hope comes from acceptance
The Jubilee Year, therefore, is not "an event to be archived at its conclusion, but an invitation to remain attentive to the Son, because without listening to the Word, hope is extinguished." The example to follow, adds the Cardinal Archpriest, is that of Mary, the one who "taught everyone that hope is born from acceptance: welcoming God into life, welcoming others, welcoming the future without fear." Only in this way, that is, by letting God enter our hearts, can we open the true Holy Door, "that of mercy, reconciliation, and fraternity."
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Liberian Basilica (@VATICAN MEDIA)
Translating the Holy Year into concrete actions
Finally, from the basilica that houses the Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani , as well as the remains of Pope Francis and several other Pontiffs, Cardinal Makrickas invites the faithful to translate the powerful moments of the Jubilee into renewed prayer, concrete attention to the poor, reconciliation in families, creative commitment in work, and a merciful presence in the community. Only in this way, in fact, can we have the courage to be "a Church with the Gospel in our hands and our brothers and sisters in our hearts."
Prayer for the poor
During the prayer of the faithful, special intentions are offered for the Church, that she may always be faithful to her mission of proclaiming the Good News; for the pilgrims who have passed through the Holy Door, that, renewed in hope, they may bear witness to the Lord's love; for those who seek the truth, that they may find in God the light, Word, and strength that conquer darkness, doubt, and fatigue. Prayers are then offered for the assembly and for its desire for "renewed attention to the needs of the poor." The Mass concludes with the traditional Christmas carol, "Silent Night, " and with the solemn blessing imparted by the Cardinal Archpriest.
The Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani
Created by the sculptor Luigi Enzo Mattei and inaugurated by Saint John Paul II on December 8, 2001, the Holy Door of the Liberian Basilica was opened for the first time by Pope Francis on January 1, 2016, on the occasion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Inspired by the image of the man on the Shroud of Turin, it depicts Christ appearing to the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani . At the top left is the Annunciation to Mary, and on the right is Pentecost. At the bottom left is the Council of Ephesus, which declared Mary Mother of God, and on the right is the Second Vatican Council, which proclaimed her Mother of the Church.
Other Holy Doors Closing Dates
The Holy Door of the Liberian Basilica was the first of the papal basilicas to be closed. On the morning of Saturday, December 27th, it will be the turn of St. John Lateran, while the following day, Sunday, December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Family, it will be the turn of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The rites will be presided over by the respective archpriests, Cardinal Baldassare Reina and James Michael Harvey. Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of the Vatican Basilica on January 6th, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
The Jubilee of Hope, the cardinal continues, was "a time in which the Church proclaimed, once again to the entire world, that God is not far away, that peace is possible, that mercy is stronger than sin." And following in the footsteps of Popes Francis and Leo, Makrickas recalls that hope is not illusion, nor escapism, nor naive optimism, but rather "a concrete force that opens new paths," "a decision in the spirit of love," "participation in the life of the Word made flesh, a light that no night can extinguish."
Hope comes from acceptance
The Jubilee Year, therefore, is not "an event to be archived at its conclusion, but an invitation to remain attentive to the Son, because without listening to the Word, hope is extinguished." The example to follow, adds the Cardinal Archpriest, is that of Mary, the one who "taught everyone that hope is born from acceptance: welcoming God into life, welcoming others, welcoming the future without fear." Only in this way, that is, by letting God enter our hearts, can we open the true Holy Door, "that of mercy, reconciliation, and fraternity."
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Liberian Basilica (@VATICAN MEDIA)
Translating the Holy Year into concrete actions
Finally, from the basilica that houses the Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani , as well as the remains of Pope Francis and several other Pontiffs, Cardinal Makrickas invites the faithful to translate the powerful moments of the Jubilee into renewed prayer, concrete attention to the poor, reconciliation in families, creative commitment in work, and a merciful presence in the community. Only in this way, in fact, can we have the courage to be "a Church with the Gospel in our hands and our brothers and sisters in our hearts."
Prayer for the poor
During the prayer of the faithful, special intentions are offered for the Church, that she may always be faithful to her mission of proclaiming the Good News; for the pilgrims who have passed through the Holy Door, that, renewed in hope, they may bear witness to the Lord's love; for those who seek the truth, that they may find in God the light, Word, and strength that conquer darkness, doubt, and fatigue. Prayers are then offered for the assembly and for its desire for "renewed attention to the needs of the poor." The Mass concludes with the traditional Christmas carol, "Silent Night, " and with the solemn blessing imparted by the Cardinal Archpriest.
The Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani
Created by the sculptor Luigi Enzo Mattei and inaugurated by Saint John Paul II on December 8, 2001, the Holy Door of the Liberian Basilica was opened for the first time by Pope Francis on January 1, 2016, on the occasion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Inspired by the image of the man on the Shroud of Turin, it depicts Christ appearing to the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani . At the top left is the Annunciation to Mary, and on the right is Pentecost. At the bottom left is the Council of Ephesus, which declared Mary Mother of God, and on the right is the Second Vatican Council, which proclaimed her Mother of the Church.
Other Holy Doors Closing Dates
The Holy Door of the Liberian Basilica was the first of the papal basilicas to be closed. On the morning of Saturday, December 27th, it will be the turn of St. John Lateran, while the following day, Sunday, December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Family, it will be the turn of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The rites will be presided over by the respective archpriests, Cardinal Baldassare Reina and James Michael Harvey. Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of the Vatican Basilica on January 6th, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
Source: Vatican News Italian
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