Tue Dec 24 23:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Pope Opens Holy Door, Launching Jubilee Year Amidst Global News
**Vatican City/Various Locations** – Pope Francis ushered in a special Jubilee year for Roman Catholics on Christmas Eve, opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. This momentous event, occurring only once every 25 years, is expected to draw over 30 million pilgrims to Rome seeking forgiveness. The Jubilee year coincides with a flurry of international news, including a deadly attack in Germany, the aftermath of a devastating cyclone in Mayotte, and ongoing political tensions in Georgia and Russia.
A suspect appeared in court following a car attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which left five dead and over 200 injured. Meanwhile, in Mayotte, French President Emmanuel Macron surveyed the damage caused by Cyclone Chido, one of the strongest storms in decades to hit the French territory. The cyclone caused significant destruction and at least one death, with footage showing an oil spill in the aftermath.
In Russia, the death of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter, continues to generate headlines. President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation in his annual end-of-year press conference. Separately, a rape trial in France concluded, with the victim, Gisèle Pelicot, speaking publicly about her experience.
Further afield, large protests erupted outside the Georgian parliament following the appointment of a new president. And finally, after more than five years of restoration, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has officially reopened its doors to the public.
First Piper 