Tue Dec 24 21:21:00 UTC 2024: ## Pope Francis Opens Holy Year 2025 Amidst Security and Logistical Concerns
**Vatican City, December 25, 2024** – Pope Francis inaugurated the Catholic Church’s Holy Year 2025 on Christmas Eve, a Jubilee expected to draw 32 million pilgrims to Rome. The event, marked by the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, comes with significant security concerns heightened following a recent Christmas market attack in Germany. Increased police presence, metal detectors, and camera surveillance are in place throughout Rome.
Francis, who recently turned 88, opened the Holy Door from his wheelchair, launching the once-every-25-year tradition. The Jubilee, themed “Hope,” will feature events like the canonization of Carlo Acutis, considered the first millennial saint, in April. The Pope’s health, already a concern due to past bronchitis, will be tested by the rigorous schedule including Christmas Eve Mass, the “Urbi et Orbi” address on Christmas Day, and further events throughout the year. He will also symbolically open a Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison to offer hope to inmates.
Rome itself faces logistical challenges. While undergoing major public works projects, only a third are completed, straining the city’s infrastructure already struggling with post-COVID overtourism and a housing crisis. Despite these concerns, Vatican officials are confident in Rome’s ability to manage the influx of pilgrims, citing historical precedents such as the construction of the Sistine Chapel for a 1475 Jubilee. Pilgrims participating in the Jubilee can obtain “indulgences,” a remission of sins. The next planned Jubilee is set for 2033.
First Piper 