Welcome to a momentous occasion at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the excitement of the Jubilee of 2025 is building up. In a moving ceremony known as recognitio, the Holy Door’s integrity was confirmed, ready to be reopened after being sealed shut during the last Holy Year. This event signals a significant step towards the upcoming Jubilee celebration, set to be inaugurated by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve.
A Ceremony of Anticipation and Tradition
The ceremony commenced with a prayer led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the Vatican Basilica’s archpriest. Following a moment of reflection, Vatican workers broke down the wall sealing the Holy Door since the end of the Jubilee of Mercy in November 2016. With a symbolic blow of a hammer and chisel, the space was reopened to retrieve a sealed metal box containing various items, including the key that Pope Francis will use to open the door on December 24, marking the start of the Jubilee.
Cardinal Gambetti led a procession to the Altar of Confession for a prayer session. Subsequently, the group moved to the Chapter House, where the contents of the box recovered from the Holy Door were unveiled, revealing several symbolic objects.
The Treasures Found Inside the Box
Among the significant items found in the box were the key to the Holy Door, door handles, the Rogito scroll certifying its closure, four golden bricks, and various medals, including ones from the pontificates of Popes Francis, Benedict XVI, and John Paul II. These objects will play a part in the opening ceremony of the upcoming Jubilee.
Other “Recognitio” Ceremonies at Pontifical Basilicas
The recognitio ritual was not exclusive to St. Peter’s Basilica but will also be carried out at other pontifical basilicas. Similar ceremonies are scheduled at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on December 3, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on December 5, and Santa Maria Maggiore on December 6, underscoring the solemnity and spiritual significance of the impending opening of the Jubilee 2025.
The recognitio of the Holy Door holds profound significance for the Catholic Church, symbolizing the spiritual renewal and preparation that the Jubilee will bring to the faithful worldwide.
