A similar claim was made on Facebook. The post misrepresents a ritual known as the opening of holy doors, which marks the start of a special period of forgiveness for the Catholic Church.

The rite of opening the Holy Doors of the main basilicas of Rome to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee Year is perhaps one of the most solemn events of the Catholic Church, with centuries of tradition.

The Vatican announced that, for the 2025 Jubilee year — the Jubilee of Hope — five “Holy Doors” will be opened, beginning on Christmas Eve, as Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at the ...

The Holy Door resides in the northernmost point of St. Peter’s Church and is unused except in Jubilee years. The current doors were installed in 1950 and were designed by Vico Consorti.

Christians world over celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday. This Solemnity, as we celebrate it, marks the ...

In his final Easter message, Pope Francis expressed pain over the violence and division throughout our world and urged us to rekindle hopes for peace. He held war-torn communities in his heart — not ...

He wants to continue Francis’ effort to fling open the doors of the Vatican and listen to many voices outside the church hierarchy. And in a clear sign that this is a pope keenly attuned to the ...