Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, inaugurating a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome in a test of the pope’s stamina ...

According to the Vatican, the tradition began in 1300 when Pope Boniface VII announced the first Jubilee. Later, Jubilees came to be celebrated every 25 years.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025. “O Christ, bright star of the morning, incarnation of ...

Pope Francis is seen opening a Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica to welcome the jubilee of 2016. Getty Images In between jubilee years, the Vatican door is sealed shut with a layer of bricks.

Pope Francis kicked off the first Saturday Jubilee audience of 2025 by urging pilgrims to embrace hope as a divine strength that enables new beginnings, drawing inspiration from St. John the Baptist.

Pope Francis makes Jubilee year appeal to end hunger, debt woes and death penalty. Story by RNS • 1w. V ATICAN CITY (RNS) — In the year 2000, then-Pope John Paul II appealed to leaders of ...

Pope Francis’ Christmas message was a plea for reconciliation, peace and care for others. By Elisabetta Povoledo Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and ...

Francis on Friday said the new jubilee would begin on this year's Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated Dec. 8. It will close on Nov. 20, 2016, the day celebrated that year as ...

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, ... Francis declared a special Jubilee in 2015-16 dedicated to mercy and the next one is planned for 2033 to commemorate the ...

Pope Francis is seen opening a Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to welcome the jubilee of 2016. Getty Images In between jubilee years, the Vatican door is sealed shut with a layer of bricks.