Pope to open Holy Door today
Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Monday, 7 December 2015 AT 11:03 PM IST
Pope Francis will ceremoniously open the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Tuesday, December 8, marking launch of the jubilee year of the mercy. This reminds me of the moments I spent at the famous Holy Door when I visited the Vatican a couple of years ago.When one is visiting St Peter's Basilica, one needs a guide or someone who is well acquainted with the importance of the sculptures, paintings and other artefacts at this pilgrim site. For example, as I entered St Peter's Basilica, I was shocked when I noticed at the right side, La Pieta, a master piece of veteran sculptor Michelangelo. The 15th century marble sculpture was covered with a bulletproof glass, following an attempt to damage the statue of Mother Mary grieving with the corpse of her crucified son, Jesus.
I carefully looked at the Holy Door and the carvings at the bronze door only when I was informed of the door's significance by a priest who was guiding me and my family members during the tour to the holy city.
Incidentally, a Holy Door is one of the many important monuments or heritage works at the impressive St Peter's Basilica. A Holy Door is an entrance portal located in the Papal Major basilicas in Rome. The doors are normally sealed by mortar and cement from the inside so that they cannot be opened. The pope ceremoniously opens these doors with symbolic knocking with a silver hammer. The Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica was last opened by Pope John Paul III on December 24, 1999 and closed on January 6, 2001. Prior to that, Pope Paul V had opened the Holy Door St Peter's Basilica on the eve of Christmas in 1975.
There are no accurate historical records to indicate when the tradition of opening of the holy doors began. But it is certainly not more than five centuries old. In the past, the doors used to be opened after 100 years, later after 50 years and more recently it was reduced to 25 years.Although this is not a jubilee year, Pope Francis has, as a special case, declared Jubilee of Mercy and so the holy doors in Rome and at a few places outside will be opened this year and will remain open for a year.
The jubilee year is expected to provide time to the faithful for their spiritual renewal.
Marking another break from the past, Pope Francis has also instructed opening of a Door of Mercy in each diocese to enable the faithful all over the world to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy. In Pune, Bishop Thomas Dabre will ceremoniously open the Door of Mercy at St Patrick's Cathedral at 6 pm on Sunday, December 13.
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